![Sooryavanshi was picked in India's T2OI squads for UK tour [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1780818899789_SooryavanshiwaspickedinIndia'sT2OIsquadsforUKtour.jpg?type=hq)
Sooryavanshi was picked in India's T2OI squads for UK tour [Source: AFP]
At just 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage sensation, was shown trust by the BCCI as they picked him for the T20Is against Ireland and England. This would be his major assignment at the highest level with Team India, and there is a great buzz surrounding his potential debut in the upcoming series.
He is a sure-shot starter in the T20Is against the Ireland team, and that would mean one of Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson might be sacrificed.
Over the last two years, India has shown faith in Abhishek Sharma and has backed him despite a few failures. However, the same cannot be said about Samson, who was not even the first-choice opener at the start of the T20 World Cup.
Most likely, Sooryavanshi will eat Samson’s place in the side, and this is De Ja Vu happenin all over again.
When Sooryavanshi's arrival led to Samson's exit from Rajasthan Royals
Samson was the captain of the Rajasthan Royals side in the IPL, up until the 2025 season. However, midway through the campaign, he suffered an injury and missed quite a few chunks of games. This is when RR accommodated teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the lineup, and the rest, as they say, is history.
In 7 IPL 2025 matches, he slammed 252 runs, including a stellar hundred against the Gujarat Titans. As a result, when Samson was injury-free, he was demoted to number 3, so that Sooryavanshi could play at the top.
Also Read: India T20I Squad Vs Ireland And England Announced; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Included
The decision to demote Samson made him furious, and he decided to part ways; he was eventually traded to the Chennai Super Kings before IPL 2026.
Samson's dream to captain India in T2OIs after a stellar T20 World Cup
It was evident, and everyone reported it, that Samson wished to captain India in the T20Is after Suryakumar Yadav. The Kerala batter had a brilliant T20 World Cup, and he wanted to be Suryakumar’s successor.
| Criterion | Data |
| Matches | 5 |
| Runs | 321 |
| Strike rate | 199.38 |
| 50s | 3 |
(Samson stats in T20 WC 2026)
- In the T20 World Cup 2026, Samson was drafted in the playing XI midway through the campaign, and he single-handedly dragged India to a World title, smashing 321 runs in five matches, with a strike rate almost touching 200.
- He scored match-winning knocks in the semis and the finals, and was named the Player of the Tournament despite playing just five games.
- With SKY’s form fading, he was always sitting on the exit door, and Samson had the opportunity to lead India, but that hope vanished with the arrival of Sooryavanshi.
How Sooryavanshi ended Samson's T20I captaincy dream
Many touted Sooryavanshi to be a one-season wonder in the IPL, but the youngster proved his doubters wrong and became the IPL 2026 Player of the Tournament.
| Criterion | Data |
| Matches | 16 |
| Runs | 776 |
| Strike rate | 237.31 |
| 50s/100s | 5/1 |
(Sooryavanshi IPL 2026 stats)
- 776 IPL 2026 runs, with a strike rate of 237 defined Sooryavanshi’s journey as he broke several records in the process.
- He carried the Rajasthan Royals team into the Qualifier 2, and was the most destructive batter in the tournament as the selectors picked him for the Ireland and England tours.
After the T20 World Cup, Samson continued his domination in the IPL 2026, where he smacked two centuries, but his captaincy dream faded as Sooryavanshi was picked in the team.
As stated before, India has shown immense trust in Abhishek Sharma, and even when he scored three ducks in a row at the T20 World Cup, the batter was not dropped.
Hence, if the management decides to hand Sooryavanshi his maiden India debut against Ireland and England, one of the openers needs to be sacrificed, and that would be Samson, and not Abhishek.
Samson is not comfortable in any other position apart from the opening slot, and if Sooryavanshi gets his debut, the right-handed batter won’t be able to play in other spots, and hence, he could be the victim, and could meet with the same fate as Suryakumar Yadav.
So, a player who once dreamt of leading the Indian T20I side after Suryakumar Yadav, now finds himself in an unknown territory, not knowing what the future holds for him.
Also Read: Afghanistan Take Worst DRS Of 2026 After Missing Out Thrice
