"It was a strategic call at the start" - Abhishek Nayar on Sanju Samson ahead of IND vs WI 2026 5th T20I
India keep faith in Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma after the pair scored 168 and 145 runs in the series, respectively.
- On Saturday, October 17, the fifth and final T20I between India and West Indies at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was abandoned due to rain, leaving the series tied at 2-2.
- Throughout the five matches, India's team management consistently selected established openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, leaving 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench for the entire series.
- Management justified their selection by citing Samson's 82-run knock against West Indies and his experience as Player of the Tournament when India won the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
- Captain Shreyas Iyer addressed the selection, telling Sooryavanshi to remain patient, stating "you'll get your opportunity" with two established World Cup-winning openers consistently delivering.
- While Sooryavanshi has scored 246 runs in eight T20Is since his debut, all matches occurred outside India, leaving the youngster waiting for his debut on home soil.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Why Did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Not Play Against West Indies? Indian Captain Shreyas Iyer Explains
India captain Shreyas Iyer explained on Sunday why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not feature in the playing XI during the five T20Is against West Indies. Iyer said India backed the experienced opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, while the final match in Bengaluru was washed out, leaving the series tied 2-2.
15-ball key to success: How taking time has made Sanju Samson more lethal in T20s this year - The Tribune
As India takes on West Indies in the T20I series decider in Bengaluru on Saturday, all eyes will be on Sanju Samson, who fired an aggressive half-century during his side's massive 248-run chase at Hyderabad in the previous match.
Ahead of the decisive India-West Indies T20I, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Instagram story is making the rounds. Despite not getting a chance in the first four matches, he shared a hopeful message.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi posts two-word message after sitting out 4 straight matches ahead of IND vs WI 5th T20I
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has remained on the bench for all four T20Is against West Indies and posted "still believing" on social media ahead of the series decider. Head coach Gautam Gambhir backed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as openers, saying Sooryavanshi must wait for his opportunity but will receive a longer run once selected.
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