Sanju Samson Gives No-Nonsense Response On Competition With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi - (Source: AFP)After five innings, Sanju Samson returned to form by smashing a fiery half-century in the second T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Tuesday evening.Despite being the Player of the Tournament during India's victories 2026 T20 World Cup, Samson has been under the pump because of the sudden rise of the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Sooryavanshi first stamped his authority with 776 runs in the IPL 2026, and then amassed the global audience with his audicious hitting in England and Zimbabwe. However, the team management decided to give another go to Samon ahead of the teenager in the IND vs AFG T20Is, despite Sooryavanshi ending with Player of the Series performance in his last outing for India. Sanju Samson admits pressure after emergence of Vaibhav SooryavanshiAfter the IND vs AFG 2nd T20I, Sanju Samson attended the post-match press conference, where he spoke about the pressure of leading the Indian team and the emergence of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He admitted that he is under pressure, despite ending the 2026 T20 World Cup on a high, thanks to the 15-year-old. “Running the Indian team is not an easy task. You see a 15-year-old boy who has come after scoring 700-800 runs (in the IPL). My tournament (the 2026 T20 World Cup) was before that. After that, he performed so well, and he had to come in some way or another. I didn't perform in 2-3 games (in Ireland and England), and he was in form; we wanted to win games in that series. It was very understandable from a leadership standpoint. As I mentioned before, I have been in this situation myself. I've also taken tough calls as a captain in an IPL franchise, so I understand,” Sanju Samson said in the press conference on Tuesday. Also Read: Yuvraj Singh Sends Big DM To Gautam Gambhir On Kohli-Rohit For 2027 World CupNotably, the wicketkeeper batter was at his stumpedous best in the second fixture vs Afghanistan. Chasing a below-par total of 160 runs, Samson gave them a gung-ho start and went big, smashing a fifty in just 20 balls before finishing on a 22-ball 57. What makes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi so special?Comparing Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is like comparing apples and oranges, as the former can also don the gloves. But with Ishan Kishan cementing his place as a reliable number 3 batter, it opens up space for the 15-year-old prodigy. Samson may provide assurance in tricky situations, but Sooryavanshi is someone who can destroy any bowling attack upfront, making it easier for the following batters. The same was the case in IPL 2026, when Sooryavanshi smoked 776 runs at a whopping strike rate of 237.30. His wonders in the Indian extravaganza earned him his maiden India call-up, and he later made his T20I debut in England earlier this year.As the teenager has started to flourish in the shortest format, pundits and former cricketers are demanding that the selectors unleash him in the other formats as well. Can Vaibhav Sooryavanshi get a game in IND vs AFG 3rd T20I? With India already leading 2-nil in the series, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could get a chance in the IND vs AFG 3rd T20I. Although he may not replace Sanju Samson, the southpaw could come in for Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan. It is worth mentioning that if Sooryavanshi gets a go on Thursday, it will be his maiden outing as an Indian cricketer in India. Also Read: Ben Stokes Goes On Epic Rant Dragging Pietersen After Harry Brook's Ton