Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image: X)
NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s time will come, but feels India should currently stick with the top-three combination that delivered the 2026 T20 World Cup title, backing Sanju Samson to reclaim his place alongside Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. During the Duleep Trophy, he became the youngest player to score a half-century in the competition, reaching the landmark at 15 years and 175 days.
He scored for India A and also made runs for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy,” Rahane said. Sooryavanshi has already provided plenty of evidence of his ability. “If we talk about cricket skills, we saw how well he batted in the IPL and scored consistently.
“I feel the top three should be the same that played in the World Cup. Samson has done well, but he got dropped after two or three bad innings. I want him to get another chance.
Abhishek and Ishan also did well for us,” Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel on Friday.
But he is a match-winner, and his return strengthens the team,” Rahane said. It is a very early stage for him in his career and in international cricket,” Rahane said. Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, was dropped after a string of low scores on the tour of England. Sooryavanshi was subsequently handed his international debut in Manchester and also opened during the T20Is against Zimbabwe. “I am happy to see Sanju Samson back in the team. He was the ‘Man of the Series’ in the World Cup. It has been up and down, and things were happening to him that were not in his control. “I think he should just play his game right now. He should back the game that led him to come into the Indian team.
With Samson now recalled for the three-match home series against Afghanistan, beginning at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, Rahane believes the experienced batter should return to the top order.