Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Sanju Samson’s T20I Return Draws Backlash After Early Dismissal
Sanju Samson returned to India’s T20I team against Afghanistan.
He scored 10 runs before being dismissed.
Some fans were unhappy because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not selected to play.
Sooryavanshi is 15 years old and had scored 151 runs in the recent Zimbabwe series.
He was also named Player of the Series.
Captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Gautam Gambhir chose Samson and Abhishek Sharma to open.
Fans said Sooryavanshi should get a chance in the next match.
India was still chasing Afghanistan’s total of 157 when the report was published.
Sanju Samson scored 10 runs from eight balls in India’s first T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi.
Fans criticized his selection after 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI.
Sooryavanshi had been named Player of the Series after scoring 151 runs in India’s recent Zimbabwe series.
Captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Gautam Gambhir selected Samson and Abhishek Sharma to open instead.
India was chasing 157, with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan batting after Samson’s dismissal.
- Who
- Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India’s team management, and Afghanistan’s cricket team.
- What
- Samson scored 10 runs on his T20I return, prompting fan criticism of his selection ahead of Sooryavanshi.
- When
- The first T20I was reported on September 13 and took place on a Sunday; the year was not specified.
- Where
- New Delhi.
- Why
- Fans questioned the selection because Sooryavanshi had recently scored 151 runs and won Player of the Series in Zimbabwe.
Fans’ criticism
Team management’s selection
Who should open
Fans’ criticism
Fans argued that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should have been selected after his 151-run Zimbabwe series and Player of the Series performance.
Team management’s selection
Captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Gautam Gambhir selected Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to open against Afghanistan.
Reaction to Samson’s dismissal
Fans’ criticism
Some users called Samson’s selection shameful and demanded that Sooryavanshi return for the next match.
Team management’s selection
The reported team decision gave Samson another opportunity on his T20I return, although the article does not provide a direct explanation from the captain, coach, or selectors.
- Match
- India vs Afghanistan, first T20I
- Venue
- New Delhi
- Samson’s score
- 10 runs off eight balls
- Afghanistan’s total
- 157 runs
- Sooryavanshi’s recent performance
- 151 runs in the Zimbabwe series
- Sooryavanshi’s age
- 15 years
- India’s chase at publication
- India needed 63 runs from 73 balls