Shreyas Iyer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Image Credits: ACB/AFPTeam India is set to take on Afghanistan in the first T20I of their ‘away’ series in Delhi on Sunday, September 13. However, it appears that the Indian team management is still not settled with a specific opening pair. With as many as three specialist openers in the squad, the team management will be expected to make a call between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson before the match. Captain Shreyas Iyer himself confirmed the same, when he was asked to reveal the specifics around Sooryavanshi’s playing XI status while speaking with the reporters.Uncertainty grows around Sanju Samson, Shreyas says ‘tight call’ for managementWhile speaking with the reporters in Delhi on Saturday, September 12, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer was asked to give confirmation regarding the playing XI status of Indian openers, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson. Also Read- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Gets Taste Of Jasprit Bumrah Music Before IND vs AFG 1st T20ISince Abhishek Sharma has already seemingly cemented his place in the national T20I XI, the Indian team management is expected to pick his opening partner before the match against Afghanistan.Captain Shreyas believes that it is “going to be a tight call” for the management, and said “Important that the coach and I speak to the one sitting out and give him clarity.”Akshay Ramesh @iamnotakshayr "It's going to be a tight call," says captain Shreyas Iyer when speaking about the choice of openers. "Important that the coach and I speak to the one sitting out and give him clarity," says the skipper. So, the wait to know if Samson plays continues. #AFGvsIND @ITGDsports Sep 12, 2026, 5:22 PM Timeline of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs Sanju Samson opening dilemma Sanju Samson served as Team India’s primary opener since their home series against New Zealand earlier this year. The blistering wicketkeeper-batter even returned with a ‘Player of the Tournament’ performance in India’s historic T20 World Cup 2026 win. However, the simultaneous rise of Rajasthan Royals wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi prompted the Indian selectors to name the 15-year-old in the national squad for the tours of Ireland and England.While Sooryavanshi failed to receive a single crack in Ireland, the youngster was named in the playing XI midway into the series in England at an expense of a ‘rested’ Sanju Samson.Moreover, the youngster also travelled to Zimbabwe for India’s three-match series, while the champion stumper was rested from the squad altogether.With Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi both finding themselves in India’s squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan, it remains to be seen which of the two openers will get the nod alongside Abhishek Sharma in the series opener in Delhi on Sunday, September 13.Can Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson open together?There is also a slight possibility of Team India unleashing both, Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson in the first T20I of the series against Afghanistan, all while resting first-choice opener Abhishek Sharma from the playing XI.For starters, Abhishek has not been in the best of form off late for Team India. Not only did the former number one ranked T20I batter underwent a below-par T20 World Cup 2026 this year, the attacking left-hander also listed just 11 runs in three innings against Zimbabwe a couple of months ago at a dismal average of 3.67.Hence, the team management could opt to hand Abhishek Sharma a much-needed rest and unleash the explosive combination of Sooryavanshi and Samson at the top of the order against Afghanistan.Also Read- South Africa Predicted Playing XI vs Namibia- 3rd ODI, SA Tour of NAM 2026
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