Gautam Gambhir Picks Sooryavanshi Over Samson for West Indies T20 Series

Indian coach Gautam Gambhir dropped Sanju Samson and named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the upcoming T20 series against the West Indies. Gambhir told JioStar the choice was the toughest he has faced in his two‑year coaching stint and the only night he could not sleep. Samson had been named Player of the Tournament after just three or four matches, but Sooryavanshi was also in red‑hot form and offered a stronger start to the innings. Gambhir said the team needed a solid platform at the top to win the series. He had an honest conversation with Samson, explained the reason and said the batsman accepted the decision in good spirits. The coach added that young players like Sooryavanshi must wait for their turn, but form can fast‑track selection. Gambhir stressed that social media chatter does not decide the playing XI; the decision rests on the assessment of the coach, captain and dressing‑room performance. He warned that if Sooryavanshi plays, it creates a tough conversation about who is left out, mentioning Abhishek as another possible omission. The primary goal remains to win every series India plays. Gambhir’s remarks underline a merit‑based approach focused on current form rather than reputation or external pressure.