New Delhi: India’s team selection came under the scanner after their second T20I against England, with former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar openly questioning the decision to leave out Sanju Samson and hand a debut to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Manjrekar reacted on social media soon after the game, saying the move raised several questions about the team’s thinking. While he praised the young batter for becoming India’s youngest international cricketer, he was clearly puzzled by Samson’s absence from the playing XI.
Manjrekar raises questions over team balance
“Great to see Vaibhav in India colours. But what about Samson! Dropped?? Are you kidding me!” Manjrekar posted. He added that if Samson was not injured, then the decision looked hard to understand.
He further suggested that India could have easily accommodated both players in the same lineup, even proposing that Samson could have batted at number three to make room for the debutant.
Vaibhav’s debut and England’s response
Sooryavanshi, who hails from Bihar’s Samastipur, made history by becoming India’s youngest international cricketer, breaking a record that stood for nearly 37 years. However, his debut was modest as he scored 14 off 10 balls including two sixes before getting out.
India posted 190 for seven in their innings but England chased down the target with four wickets in hand and an over remaining, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Jacob Bethell played a key role in the chase with an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls, striking five fours and five sixes. His aggressive batting, including a strong attack on Ravi Bishnoi, helped England seal the win comfortably in 19 overs.