Archive · 16 Sep 2026
India Consider Vaibhav Sooryavanshi After Samson's T20I Revival
India played Afghanistan in a three-match T20 cricket series.
India won the first two matches by seven wickets each.
Sanju Samson played very well in the second match, scoring 57 runs from 22 balls.
India now leads the series 2-0, so Afghanistan cannot win the series.
India’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, said players who have not played may get a chance in the final match.
This could give 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his first game of the series.
Sooryavanshi has already scored many runs in T20 cricket.
India may choose to rest Samson, although his strong performance makes that decision difficult.
Sanju Samson hit 57 from 22 balls as India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20I.
India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after chasing 160 in 14.5 overs.
Shreyas Iyer said players who have not featured could receive an opportunity in the series finale.
Those comments could allow 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his first appearance of the series, potentially replacing Samson.
Sooryavanshi has scored 193 runs in six T20Is at a strike rate of 189.21, including two half-centuries.
- Who
- India and Afghanistan, with selection attention on Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and captain Shreyas Iyer.
- What
- India are considering rotating their lineup for the third T20I after winning the first two matches.
- When
- The second T20I was played on Tuesday, September 15, 2026; the third match is the series finale.
- Where
- The second T20I was played in New Delhi; the venue for the third T20I is not stated.
- Why
- India have already secured the series, and Iyer said players who have had limited game time could be given an opportunity.
Rotate the Squad
Retain Samson
Selection for the third T20I
Rotate the Squad
India have already won the series, and Shreyas Iyer said players with limited game time should receive an opportunity, creating a case for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to replace Samson.
Retain Samson
Samson has just produced a match-winning 57 from 22 balls, so removing him immediately could overlook his strong response in the second T20I.
Value of Sooryavanshi's inclusion
Rotate the Squad
The 15-year-old has scored 193 runs in six T20Is at a strike rate of 189.21 and could gain valuable experience in a dead rubber.
Retain Samson
Sooryavanshi has not yet played in this series, while Samson's experience and recent performance support retaining the established wicketkeeper-batter.
- Series result
- India lead Afghanistan 2-0 in the three-match T20I series.
- Second T20I
- India chased 160 in 14.5 overs and won by seven wickets.
- Sanju Samson
- Scored 57 from 22 balls in the second T20I.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Has not played in the series and could feature in the third T20I.
- Sooryavanshi's T20I record
- 193 runs in six T20Is at a strike rate of 189.21, with two half-centuries.
- Captain's comments
- Shreyas Iyer said players sitting out could receive a chance to gain match practice.
- Earlier selection debate
- Before the second T20I, Samson faced pressure after scoring 43 runs across five matches since the T20 World Cup final.
