IND vs WI: Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Should Replace Sanju Samson in India’s Playing XI in 2nd T20I in Ranchi

Sanju Samson’s latest failure has once again raised the question India have been trying to avoid — how long can Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remain on the bench? Samson made just 11 off nine balls in India national cricket team’s eight-wicket win over West Indies national cricket team in the first T20I in Lucknow, extending a difficult run since his Player of the Tournament-winning 2026 T20 World Cup campaign. With the second T20I set for Ranchi on October 9, India have a genuine selection call to make.

Samson’s case remains strong because of his successful partnership with Abhishek Sharma at the top. But Sooryavanshi has been knocking on the door with performances that are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. The teenager has scored 246 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 30.75 and a staggering strike rate of 186.36. His case is strengthened further by a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, where he amassed 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30 to win the Orange Cap and MVP award. India’s management may still prefer continuity, but there is a compelling case for giving Sooryavanshi his long-awaited home opportunity.

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