Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s long-awaited India debut came at Old Trafford on Saturday, but one of the most impressive moments of the second T20I against England had nothing to do with the youthful enthusiasm with which he received his hat-trick. Moments after the announcement of the Indian XI, the television cameras focused on the head coach. Gautam Gambhir sharing a quiet conversation with Sanju Samson in the outer courtyard. There was no audio from the exchange, and any attempt to interpret the conversation would be speculative. However, the images had meaning. Samson’s loss was not that of a player who fell into apathy in just one night. He was one of the cricketers who Gambhir defended regularly during the T20 World Cup triumph in India, where the wicketkeeper batsman played a major role in lifting the trophy. Earlier this year, Gambhir went out of his way to praise Samson after one of his tournament-winning innings, described him as “the best batsman in the world” and said the innings showed the team’s commitment to his support. He also highlighted Samson’s ability, composure and the faith that the management always put in his ability. That statement made Saturday’s photos even more depressing. The same coach who repeatedly stood by Samson now had to leave him out as India chose to give Sooryavanshi his first international appearance. This idea is very popular considering Samson’s contribution to India’s World Cup victory. He was named Player of the Tournament after scoring three innings, a performance that helped India’s title-winning campaign. Many would say that India might not have lifted the trophy without this knock. However, after just 5, 0 and 1 on the UK tour, his position came under serious scrutiny. The selection problem was compounded as Ishan Kishan retained the gloves, leaving Samson to compete as the best batsman. India has tried to resist the call for immediate change. On the eve of the match, the referees talked about the merits of the best players, with Samson’s contribution to the World Cup forming a major part of the debate. The message said that the management was determined not to take a knee-jerk decision despite the need for an increase in Sooryavanshi. However, when it came time to cast in Manchester, the management decided to go in a different direction. Sooryavanshi was awarded his India cap and became the youngest player to represent the country, surpassing the historic feat achieved by Sachin Tendulkar. For the young upstart, this was the beginning of what many hope will be a remarkable international career. For Samson, however, it was another reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in international cricket. A few months after he was Player of the Tournament in India’s World Cup triumph, three low scores cost him his place in the side. A brief conversation with Gambhir before the match perhaps conveyed the point better than words.