Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have emerged as strong contenders for India’s opening slot in T20 internationals following their recent performances against Afghanistan. Sharma struck 82 off 32 deliveries in the first T20I, hitting seven sixes during his aggressive innings. Samson was dismissed early in that match but bounced back with a half-century in the second T20I, scoring 57 off 22 balls with four sixes and seven boundaries.
Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has weighed in on the selection debate, advocating for a structured approach to India’s opening partnership. He believes the pair should be given a defined window to establish themselves at the top of the order rather than being rotated based on short-term results.
“Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson should open in the next 10 T20Is after this series. After that, if Sanju Samson fails, drop him and pick Sooryavanshi. They should follow this process instead of alternating between the two from one series to the next. I feel this has been unfair to Samson,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
Why Samson deserves continuity over rotation
Badrinath’s recommendation stems from Samson’s recent form and his track record in international cricket. The batter has already delivered significant performances for India, and Badrinath emphasised that Samson deserves continuity rather than being dropped and recalled based on short-term results. The former India batter believes an extended run would allow Samson to prove his credentials as a long-term opening option.
“Samson has performed well and is coming off a half-century. I feel he should get an extended run till the end of the year. He has scored two centuries and won India the World Cup,” Badrinath said.
“Though he hasn’t delivered extraordinary performances like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, he was already there in the line. So why do you have to drop him to bring in another youngster? Give Sanju an extended run and then decide,” he added.
Sooryavanshi’s emergence and future prospects
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at 15 years old, has already made an impression on the international stage. The young opener was named Player of the Series in Zimbabwe, where he opened alongside Abhishek Sharma while Samson rested. Sooryavanshi’s performances in that series have generated considerable interest in his potential as a future opening option for India.
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The third and final T20I against Afghanistan takes place on Thursday, September 17, 2026. India leads the series 2-0 after winning the second T20I by seven wickets. The outcome of that match provided further context to the ongoing discussion about India’s opening combination and the roles of Sharma, Samson and Sooryavanshi in the team’s future plans.
