The debate over India’s top three for the upcoming Afghanistan T20I series has taken an interesting turn, with former India batter Ajinkya Rahane backing Sanju Samson to return to the lineup ahead of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Both players are part of India’s squad, but with limited places available at the top of the order, the team management faces a difficult selection call. Rahane believes India should not move too far away from the combination that delivered during the T20 World Cup.
Ajinkya Rahane wants Sanju Samson back in India’s top three
Rahane’s preference is straightforward: India should retain the top three that performed successfully at the World Cup and give Samson another opportunity.
Speaking on his Hindi YouTube channel, the former India batter argued that Samson’s recent exclusion came after only a small sample of poor performances.
“For me, I feel the top three who played in the World Cup. I think they should be the top three. Sanju Samson did very well. After that he was dropped. Two, or perhaps two or three innings, went badly for him, and after that he was dropped. But I want Sanju Samson to get another opportunity.”
Samson had enjoyed an outstanding finish to India’s T20 World Cup campaign, producing important performances during the final three matches. His overall contribution was recognised with the Player of the Tournament award, making that run a significant milestone in his international career.
However, his form dipped afterwards, including during India’s T20I series in England. That opened the door for Sooryavanshi, whose fearless batting has quickly made him one of the most exciting young names in Indian cricket.
Should Sooryavanshi make way for Samson?
The biggest talking point surrounding India’s selection is what happens to Sooryavanshi if Samson returns to the top three.
The 15-year-old has earned his place through an aggressive style of batting and has shown the ability to take the attack on from the outset. Rahane believes that approach should not be complicated by excessive tactical thinking at such an early stage.
According to him, Sooryavanshi should simply continue playing the cricket that earned him an India call-up.
“I feel that right now he should play his game, the same game because of which he came into the Indian team. He should back that same game.”
Rahane also stressed that Sooryavanshi has plenty of time to develop and evolve.
“You should leave him free. As you keep playing, one year, two years, after that your game will gradually change. But for the time being, the game that has helped him come here, I think he should play exactly that same game.”
Samson vs Sooryavanshi: India’s selection dilemma
Rahane’s argument carries weight, particularly because Samson’s World Cup performances came at the biggest stage. Dropping a player after a couple of poor innings can make it difficult for him to establish consistency at international level.
At the same time, the Afghanistan series could offer India an ideal opportunity to experiment.
Instead of simply returning to the World Cup combination, the management could consider testing a new partnership involving Samson and Sooryavanshi. Such a move would give India valuable information about their options before more important T20 assignments arrive.
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Afghanistan T20Is could shape India’s top-order plans
The selection decision ultimately comes down to what India value more at this stage – continuity or experimentation.
Rahane has clearly chosen continuity, believing Samson deserves another extended opportunity while Sooryavanshi should be allowed to develop without unnecessary pressure.
For India, however, the Afghanistan series presents a relatively low-risk environment in which different combinations can be tested.
Whether the management follows Rahane’s experienced-backed approach or gives the teenage sensation another opportunity at the top, the Samson-Sooryavanshi debate is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. It could become one of the defining selection questions surrounding India’s next generation of T20 cricket.
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