Before the second T20 international against England, there was only one question on everyone's mind, would Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally make his debut for the Indian team. The answer came the moment captain Shreyas Iyer walked out for the toss, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's name was in the playing eleven. At just 15 years and 99 days old, he pulled on the India jersey and set a new record in the process. But amid this historic moment, a fresh debate has broken out over why Sanju Samson had to be sacrificed to make room for Vaibhav.
Samson dropped to accommodate Vaibhav
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got his chance to debut only after Sanju Samson was left out of the playing eleven. That decision by the team management has stunned several former cricketers and triggered a wave of criticism on social media. The core question being asked is whether benching an experienced wicketkeeper batter to introduce a teenager was the right call, and if Samson genuinely had to sit out, why the team management did not clearly explain the reason.
Sanjay Manjrekar's pointed question
Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar posted on X, "Great to see Vaibhav in India colours. But what about Samson! Dropped?? Are you kidding me! No, I guess, injured. Let's hope it's injury. Or it's the most bizarre selection. Could have easily batted at 3 if you wanted to get Vaibhav in." Manjrekar's point was clear, the team management had another option to accommodate Vaibhav without dropping Samson altogether, simply by adjusting the batting order and slotting Samson in at number three.
Dinesh Karthik backs Samson too
Former wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik also expressed his disappointment over Sanju Samson being left out of this second T20 against England. Speaking on commentary, he said, "I feel bad for Samson. He was your most valuable player, the one who single handedly won you three knockout matches at the T20 World Cup a few months ago to make you champions. You dropped him just so you could somehow get Vaibhav into the side. This is a selection I did not expect." Karthik's remark underlines just how crucial Samson's contribution has been to the team's recent success, which is precisely why his sudden exclusion has not sat well with several former players.
Samson's bat had gone quiet
Dropping Sanju Samson from the playing eleven was entirely the team management's call, but a look at his last three innings shows his form had gone quiet too. In the two T20s against Ireland, Samson managed just 5 runs. He then managed only 1 run in the T20 against England. It appears the management may have leaned on this lean patch while deciding to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a chance instead. Vaibhav, however, could not do much on debut either, getting out for 14 runs off 10 balls. In other words, the big call that sparked so much controversy has not yet produced a decisive result, and that is precisely what is keeping the debate alive.
