Sanju Samson’s return and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strong form have intensified debate over India’s opening combination for the Afghanistan T20I series.
Sanju Samson’s return to India’s T20I squad has sparked fresh discussion about the team’s opening combination for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan.
India have selected Samson alongside established opener Abhishek Sharma and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, giving the team management several options at the top of the order. However, the final combination has not yet been announced.
Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta reportedly backed Samson and Abhishek as his preferred opening pair. He also noted that the potentially explosive Samson–Sooryavanshi partnership has not yet been tested at the international level.
Sooryavanshi strengthened his claim with two half-centuries during India’s 3-0 series victory in Zimbabwe. His campaign included a match-winning 81 from 49 deliveries, underlining the fearless batting that has made the 15-year-old one of Indian cricket’s most closely watched prospects.
Samson, meanwhile, returns after missing the Zimbabwe tour. His experience, wicketkeeping ability and aggressive approach in the powerplay could help him regain a regular place in India’s T20I side. Ishan Kishan’s inclusion as another wicketkeeper-batter further increases competition for places.
Shreyas Iyer will captain India, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana have also been selected, subject to fitness clearance.
Afghanistan will be the designated host for the series, although all three matches will be played at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, 15 and 17.
The competition between Samson, Abhishek and Sooryavanshi gives India a significant selection decision as the team prepares for the Afghanistan series and its Asian Games title defence.
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