Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Sooryavanshi’s Omission Sparks Debate Over India’s T20I Selection
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a 15-year-old Indian cricket player.
He has scored runs very quickly in his first international matches.
He also played extremely well on India’s tour of Zimbabwe.
Even so, India did not select him for the second T20I against Afghanistan.
India chose to keep Sanju Samson in the team after Samson scored 10 runs in the first match.
Many fans were upset and some even talked about boycotting the match.
Several former Indian players said Sooryavanshi should have been given a chance.
They also said India should either support Samson for several matches or give Sooryavanshi regular opportunities.
The debate is about how India should balance experience, recent form and consistency in selection.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of India’s XI for the second T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi.
India made only one change, replacing injured Varun Chakravarthy with Ravi Bishnoi.
Sooryavanshi has scored at a 189.21 strike rate across his first six T20I innings.
Fans and former players criticized India for retaining Sanju Samson after his 10-run opening match.
Sanjay Manjrekar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik and Kris Srikkanth questioned the selection decision.
- Who
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India’s selectors and former players including Sanjay Manjrekar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik and Kris Srikkanth.
- What
- Sooryavanshi was left out of India’s playing XI for the second T20I against Afghanistan.
- When
- For the second T20I, played on Tuesday.
- Where
- Delhi.
- Why
- India retained experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and made only one change, bringing in Ravi Bishnoi for injured Varun Chakravarthy.
Critics of the Selection
Case for Continuity
Who should start?
Critics of the Selection
Critics argued that Sooryavanshi’s impressive form, including his Player of the Series performance in Zimbabwe, justified giving him a match.
Case for Continuity
India retained Sanju Samson, an experienced wicketkeeper-batter, rather than making another change to the batting lineup.
Timing of the Opportunity
Critics of the Selection
Sanjay Manjrekar said Sooryavanshi should have played while India was expected to seal the series, instead of waiting for a possible dead rubber.
Case for Continuity
Ravichandran Ashwin said Sooryavanshi could receive his opportunity in the final T20I if India won the series.
Selection Consistency
Critics of the Selection
Dinesh Karthik said India should give Sooryavanshi regular opportunities rather than repeatedly switching between him and Samson.
Case for Continuity
Keeping Samson in the XI represented a decision to continue with the experienced player after only one match, rather than reacting immediately to a single score.
- Player
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Age
- 15 years old
- T20I record cited
- A strike rate of 189.21 across his first six T20I innings
- Zimbabwe tour
- 151 runs at a strike rate of 196.10
- Zimbabwe award
- Player of the Series, plus Player of the Match in the final T20I
- India’s change
- Ravi Bishnoi replaced injured Varun Chakravarthy
- Sanju Samson’s previous score
- 10 runs in the opening match against Afghanistan