Picking one opener between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson was always going to be a difficult task for the Indian team management, a decision captain Shreyas Iyer said was a “tight call because they have been performing consistently.”
Eventually, Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir went Samson’s way for the 1st T20I of the three-match IND vs AFG series that got underway on Sunday in Delhi.
While Iyer-Gambhir had strong reasons and justifications to go with Samson – who, not long ago, hammered 97*, 89, and 89 to propel India to the T20 World Cup trophy – it was the unpopular choice among the legions of the fans that Sooryavanshi has garnered in a short time and at such a tender age of 15.
IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Sanju Samson fails, Fans Trend ‘Justice For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’
Soon after Iyer announced at the toss that Vaibhav was being benched, fans lashed out at the Iyer-Gambhir duo for their choice. This fire was fueled later in the night when Samson was dismissed for 10 runs off 8 balls, which is his fourth score of 10 or below in his last five T20I innings.
India’s UK tour in June-July was littered with the Samson vs Sooryavanshi debate, with the youngster storming into the squad following a thunderous IPL 2026 campaign.
Samson managed three single-digit scores in his first three innings against Ireland and England before being dropped for the teenager. Sooryavanshi, too, couldn’t make an impact in the three chances he got against England, with Samson returning for the 5th T20I, where he scored 27.
Sooryavanshi then flew to Zimbabwe while Samson was rested, and the left-hander bagged the Man of the Series award on the back of two blazing half-centuries.
Come the India vs Afghanistan T20I series, the Samson vs Sooryavanshi question is pertinent, as this series will be followed by the Asian Games this month, with both players part of the squad.
Pressure is now back onto Samson to fight for his place in the side once again, an unenviable task he’s done throughout his India career.
Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi’s fans demanded “justice” for the lefty, a trend that had been reserved for Samson over the past decade.
Check out the tweets of fans here:
Meanwhile, India secured the 1st T20I in Delhi through a clinical bowling performance that was followed by a thumping from Abhishek Sharma, resulting in a 7-wicket victory.
India halted Afghanistan for 156 runs, with Arshdeep Sing claiming 3/19. The chase was made comfortable by Abhishek’s stunning assault: the left-handed opener smashed 82 runs off 32 balls with the help of 7 fours and as many sixes.
When is the India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I?
The 2nd T20I will be played on September 15, Tuesday, at the same venue as the 1st T20I – Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
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