Sanjay Manjrekar warns Sanju Samson about his T20I spot as young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerges. India’s defeat against Ireland adds pressure. Read more he
Manjrekar’s Warning to Samson
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has issued a caution to Sanju Samson, stating that the wicketkeeper-batter cannot afford many missteps with young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vying for a place in the squad. This comes after India‘s defeat in the opening match of the T20I series against Ireland.
India, under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, lost by 34 runs in Belfast on Friday. The loss has intensified discussions about whether the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi should make his international debut in the second and final T20I, also scheduled for Belfast on Sunday.
During the series opener, the Indian team management maintained the opening partnership of T20 World Cup 2026 heroes Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, leaving Sooryavanshi on the bench. The question of whether the teenage batting prodigy will get an opportunity in the upcoming match is a significant talking point ahead of Sunday’s contest.
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year, did not perform well against Ireland. He scored only five runs from four deliveries before being dismissed.
Speaking after India’s defeat, Manjrekar emphasised that both Samson and Abhishek Sharma need to remain vigilant due to the increasing competition for top-order positions. He specifically noted, “Sanju Samson needs to be careful because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is breathing down his and Abhishek Sharma’s necks.”
Competition for Opening Slots
Manjrekar highlighted that Sooryavanshi’s impressive T20 form means that the current openers cannot afford to falter. He pointed out that Sooryavanshi had a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, where he was the Most Valuable Player and Orange Cap winner for the Rajasthan Royals, accumulating 776 runs in 16 innings with a strike rate of 237.30.
Before joining the senior national team for his maiden series in Ireland, Vaibhav represented India A in a one-day tri-nation A series in Sri Lanka. After scoring 14, 44, 21, and 38 in the round-robin stage, he delivered a significant knock of 94 runs off 29 balls against Sri Lanka A in the final, which included an 11-ball fifty, contributing to India A’s 66-run victory.
Despite acknowledging Sooryavanshi’s powerful hitting abilities, Manjrekar advised caution regarding expectations for international play. He suggested that the Belfast pitch was not easy for batting and the large boundary dimensions would have challenged the young player.
Manjrekar stated, “I think he would have done what Abhishek did, slightly better, maybe. A chase where you had to do everything in the first six overs. You had to carry that momentum for the rest of the overs as well. So he could have made things a little easier in the chase, but the target became just too big, and conditions weren’t easy.” He also recalled that Sooryavanshi faced similar difficulties in the tri-series in Dambulla, where hitting sixes consistently proved challenging.
While believing Sooryavanshi might have made a difference during the Powerplay, Manjrekar maintained that there is currently no open spot at the top of India’s batting order. He added, “Middle order, there is some place there, but at the top, I don’t think there is any place.”
Looking Ahead to the Second T20I
India will aim to level the series when they face Ireland in the second and final T20I on Sunday.
The Indian team management is expected to continue supporting Samson and Abhishek for the upcoming matches. Abhishek is currently the No.1-ranked T20I batter, and Samson received the Player-of-the-Tournament award during India’s T20 World Cup victory earlier this year.
The second and final T20I of the series is scheduled for Sunday, June 28.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
