Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lost his place in the playing XI for the first T20I against Afghanistan as a returning Sanju Samson opened the innings with Abhishek Sharma. Samson, who was rested for the Zimbabwe series, was always the front-runner to face the new ball. The team management took the tough call to drop Sooryavanshi, who delivered a Player of the Series performance against Zimbabwe. He hit two half-centuries in the three-match series against the African nation. The management’s decision to drop him received mixed response as Sooryavanshi was in form and he could have been given a long run.
Kris Srikkanth has also reacted to Sooryavanshi’s exclusion and revealed that even his wife was surprised by the decision to drop him. “Yesterday, because Sooryavanshi didn’t play, we started watching a movie. My wife was shouting that Sooryavanshi didn’t play and started arguing that someone who was the Player of the Match in the last match isn’t playing. Even my wife is questioning his exclusion. You are not treating Sooryavanshi properly. Now, if he plays the next match, he’ll wonder whether he’ll be dropped if he doesn’t score,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
“These are sending wrong signals, and you are creating doubts in all the players’ minds. Sooryavanshi has scored at every level from Duleep Trophy, T20Is, for India-A and the IPL. You should be promoting him. There was a huge crowd at Chepauk Stadium only to watch him play on Day 1. After that, no one went. So the entire world is watching when he plays. If you are discouraging such a player, it’s not right,” he added.
Samson flopped in his comeback game and departed for 10 off eight balls. He hit two fours in his knock. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan added 121 runs for the second wicket to take India to the cusp of a victory.
Abhishek hit 82 off just 32 balls. Batting at a strike rate of 256.25, Abhishek hit 7 sixes and as many fours in his knock. Kishan scored 42 off 33 balls as India completed the chase of 157 with ease. The second T20I of the series will be played on Tuesday (September 15).
Samson and Sooryavanshi have never played together
Samson and Sooryavanshi have never played a T20I together. The 15-year-old sat on the bench in the first three games on the UK tour. He made his debut against England after the management dropped Samson.
Samson made his return to the plaing XI in place of Sooryavanshi for the fifth game. Sooryavanshi played all three games against Zimbabwe in Samson’s absence.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes a report by Kris Srikkanth. While Times Now has verified the public data presented, the interpretations of ‘intent’ remain those of the creator.