The decision to leave Sanju Samson out of India’s playing eleven for the second T20 International against England at Old Trafford has sparked a lively debate among fans and experts alike. Samson, who was the standout player in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory earlier this year, found himself dropped after struggling with three low scores during the recent tours of Ireland and England.
This move allowed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to debut, making him India’s youngest-ever international cricketer. While many celebrated the teenager’s inclusion, others, including former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, were left shocked by Samson’s absence from the team.
Manjrekar took to social media to express his disbelief. He wondered if Samson’s drop was due to an injury and hoped that would explain the team’s surprising choice. He tweeted, “Great to see Vaibhav in India colours, but what about Samson? Dropped? Are you kidding me! I hope it’s an injury and not a strange selection decision. Samson could have easily batted at three if you wanted to include Vaibhav.”
The former cricketer’s confusion echoed the thoughts of many who believed that Samson deserved more chances, especially after his phenomenal World Cup performance. Critics thought the team could have accommodated Sooryavanshi while keeping Samson in the batting order, maintaining needed experience in the middle of the lineup.
As the match unfolded, India eventually lost by four wickets, increasing scrutiny over the team’s choices.
Calls for Rajat Patidar in T20Is?
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on the performance, noting how the team missed the opportunity for a big score after a promising start, ending with 190 for 7. He pointed out England’s Jacob Bethell, who played an impressive innings, scoring an unbeaten 76 to lead his team to victory.
Pathan highlighted a growing concern about the team’s structure, especially with Sooryavanshi joining a lineup that already features several left-handed batters. He noted that a similar situation occurred during the T20 World Cup when the team called Samson back to balance the batting order.
The former cricketer suggested that the selectors should consider bringing in Rajat Patidar, the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who had an outstanding IPL season with 501 runs at a remarkable strike rate. “With so many left-handed batsmen in the team, it’s even more important to look at options like Rajat Patidar. I hope he gets a chance, especially with time to experiment before the next T20 World Cup,” Pathan said.
With England taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, captain Shreyas Iyer and the team management are under pressure. As the series heads to Trent Bridge, selectors face the challenge of balancing the introduction of young talent like Sooryavanshi while also safeguarding proven players like Samson.
