Sanju Samson Embraces Competition With Teen Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India Spot
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson says he welcomes the competition from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as both players look to secure a place in the national team’s T20I batting lineup.
The 31-year-old produced a strong performance in the second T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Tuesday, scoring an attacking 57 to help India secure the series with a match to spare.
Samson was selected ahead of 15-year-old Sooryavanshi for the match and made the most of his opportunity.
Sooryavanshi Emerges as India’s Youngest International Player
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has quickly attracted attention after an impressive season in the Indian Premier League.
The left-handed batter became the youngest player to represent India when he made his T20I debut against England in Manchester in July.
He then played a key role in India’s 3-0 T20I series victory over Zimbabwe, finishing as the team’s leading run-scorer with 151 runs.
His rapid rise has created additional competition for places at the top of India’s batting order.
Samson Makes the Most of His Opportunity
India chose Samson to open alongside Abhishek Sharma in the first two matches of the Afghanistan series.
After scoring 10 runs in the opening game, Samson responded impressively in the second T20I. His 22-ball attacking innings helped India chase down Afghanistan’s target of 160 with seven wickets and 31 balls remaining.
Speaking after the victory, Samson stressed that competition between players should not affect the team’s primary objective.
“We may be competitors to the outside world, but we are a team and we are playing for a country and we want to win the game first,” Samson said.
He added that players need to remain prepared for their opportunities instead of becoming frustrated when another teammate is selected.
Samson Reflects on Selection Pressure
Samson made his T20I debut in 2015 but has experienced periods of inconsistent international form, which meant he was not always a regular first-choice player.
His performances improved significantly during the T20 World Cup in India in March. Although he initially remained on the bench, he delivered important contributions in the semi-final and final, scoring attacking half-centuries as India retained the title.
The batter acknowledged that selection decisions can be difficult when several players are performing well.
“I know how hard these decisions are for the management when everyone has been performing really well,” he said.
Samson Limits Social Media Noise
Samson also revealed that he sometimes disconnects from the internet to avoid the outside discussion surrounding team selection.
He said that while players try to ignore criticism and commentary, selection decisions can still have an emotional impact.
“At first, it feels bad. I am not a machine. We are not robots that it wouldn’t affect us at all,” Samson said.
India have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The final match is scheduled to take place on Thursday.
