Sooryavanshi Benched Again: Fans Slam Gambhir After Sixth Straight Snub

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s wait for a place in India’s playing XI continued on Thursday. The 15-year-old batter was left out of the side for the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch, his sixth consecutive omission. India won the toss and chose to bowl first, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning to the lineup.

The decision quickly drew a strong reaction on social media, with head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer bearing the brunt of the criticism. Several fans asked why the teenager was part of the squad at all if he was not going to feature in the playing XI.

Fans Demand Answers Over Repeated Exclusion

The backlash grew sharper as the day went on. One social media user went as far as calling for Gambhir to be sacked over the continued sidelining of the young batter. Others questioned how India was handling a talent who impressed during IPL 2026, and demanded to know why he was being kept on the bench match after match.

Supporters of the teenager argue that carrying a player in the squad without giving him game time does little for his development. Many say the exposure he would gain at the international level is being wasted.

Established Openers Retained

India stuck with its trusted opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for the series opener. Both played key roles in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph earlier this year, which makes it difficult for the team management to justify a change.

Captain Shreyas Iyer has previously stressed that Sooryavanshi is still very young and will get his chances in the future. He pointed out that the current openers are performing consistently, leaving little reason to disturb a winning combination.

For now, the debate shows no sign of cooling. Whether India’s think tank eventually hands the teenager his debut, or continues to back its World Cup-winning openers, remains to be seen as the series unfolds.