Sanju Samson Or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Robin Singh Weighs In On India's Big Dilemma

File image of Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.© X (Formerly Twitter)

Former Indian cricketer Robin Singh believes the Vaibhav Sooryavanshi-Sanju Samson debate in T20Is presents the Indian team with healthy competition, one that will not allow either player to "slip up" with their performances. With Sooryavanshi graduating to the senior level after setting the IPL and U19 circuit alight, the Indian T20I team has found itself facing a selection dilemma over whether to pick the explosive teenager or the experienced Samson at the top of the order alongside Abhishek Sharma.

The former all-rounder said youngsters should be given a long run in the side, but acknowledged that strong performances from others could mean Sooryavanshi has to wait for his opportunities.

"It is a question of giving people a good run. You don't want to give a youngster just one game or two games and then make him sit on the bench. I think those days are gone. It's important to also let him understand what international cricket is," Robin told IANS.

"Sooryavanshi has enough and more talent. So, even if he has to sit on the bench and wait it out, it's okay. But the others have done very well.

"So, it's good to have competition. It's good to have people breathing down your neck so that you don't slip up with your performances," he added.

Sooryavanshi has been part of India's T20I squads since the away series against Ireland, but has played only eight of the 18 matches since then. He made his debut in the second T20I of the five-match series in England after India took the tough call of dropping Samson following three failures despite his impressive T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

Samson returned to contention after being rested for the Zimbabwe T20I series and has retained the opening slot, particularly in home T20Is. India also experimented with playing both Sooryavanshi and Samson during the Asian Games in Japan, where the team fielded only one specialist pacer alongside several spin-bowling all-rounders, as the conditions favoured spin.

However, with more pace options now in the Playing XI, Sooryavanshi has had to wait in the wings as Samson and Abhishek continue to open the batting.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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