Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's inclusion uncertain for India vs West Indies 2nd T20I

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's participation is uncertain for India’s second T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi on Friday, October 9, in the five-match series, after India beat the visitors by eight wickets in the opening game in Lucknow. The hosts chased 172, led by captain Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 102 in the series opener.

India will aim to build on that victory and take a 2-0 lead in the series, but selection questions have emerged because Sanju Samson managed only 11 runs off nine balls in the first T20I. Samson’s scores in his last four T20I innings are 9, 7, 2 and 11, prompting discussion about whether a change at the top of the order is warranted.

The Times of India reported that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi impressed during India’s practice session in Ranchi, where he reportedly hit several big shots towards the stands. The report noted his aggressive approach and ability to score quickly as reasons he is being considered as an option at the top alongside Abhishek Sharma.

Team management faces a choice between handing Sooryavanshi an opening role or retaining the existing partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson after a single poor outing from Samson. The selectors may prefer to back Samson rather than alter the opening combination immediately.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra said he does not expect Sooryavanshi to be selected for the second T20I and argued against judging Samson on one low score, speaking on his official YouTube channel: “Will there be a chance of him playing? No, it won’t be there. You will have to agree that it cannot happen that he plays now, and if we start saying this about Sanju Samson after every match, then we are damned. How will you manage cricket then? Just don’t go there.”

Samson’s recent track record includes being part of India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year, when he scored 321 runs in five innings, and registering two half-centuries against Afghanistan in September. The article also records that Samson has scored 246 runs in 8 T20Is at a strike rate of 186.36, including two half-centuries.

India meet the West Indies in the second T20I in Ranchi on Friday, October 9, with the hosts able to move 2-0 ahead in the five-match series; whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be drafted into the playing XI for that fixture remains undecided.