Abhishek, Samson should open in next 10 T20Is, Sooryavanshi can wait: Ex-India batter

AFG vs IND: S Badrinath has backed Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson to open for India in the next 10 T20Is, calling for consistency in selection. He believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can wait for his chance, with Samson deserving an extended run after his recent half-century against Afghanistan.

In Short

• Badrinath feels Samson should get an extended run until the end of the year
• Samson hit a 22-ball 57 in the second T20I after scoring 10 in the series opener
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has not played either of the first two T20Is

Former India batter S Badrinath has backed Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson to continue as India’s opening pair in T20Is, urging the team management to give the duo an extended run instead of repeatedly switching between Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Badrinath believes India should settle on a combination and assess its performance over a sustained period. With Samson returning to the side for the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan, Sooryavanshi has had to wait for his opportunity despite an impressive run in his previous assignment against Zimbabwe.

“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, Cric it with Badri.

Abhishek, meanwhile, has continued to justify his place at the top. He hammered 82 off just 32 balls in the first T20I against Afghanistan, including seven sixes and seven fours, as India chased down 157 with 38 balls to spare.

‘GIVE SANJU AN EXTENDED RUN’

Samson made a strong statement in the second T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi. After managing only 10 in the series opener, Samson smashed a 22-ball 57 in the second match, his first T20I half-century since the 2026 T20 World Cup. He struck at more than 250 during the knock, underlining his ability to provide India with an aggressive start.

“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. 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,” Badrinath added.

Sooryavanshi, 15, has not featured in either of the first two T20Is against Afghanistan. He had earlier impressed on the Zimbabwe tour, scoring 151 runs at a strike rate of 196.10 and winning the Player of the Series award.

India have already claimed the series with a 2-0 lead. They will look to complete a whitewash when the third and final T20I takes place on Thursday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

- Ends