Ajinkya Rahane urges Indian team to back Samson, says Sooryavanshi will get his opportunities

Rahane Makes His Stand: Back Samson, Give Sooryavanshi Time

Sanju Samson's back in the squad, and ex-India captain Ajinkya Rahane isn't shy about backing the return. The keeper-bat was dropped after a rough UK trip (5, 0, 1 vs the red-hot Zimbabwe T20I call-up), but Rahane thinks the selectors overcorrected.

The numbers tell the story. Samson was MOTS at T20 WC 2026 — 321 runs in 5 Inn, including matchwinners of 97* (WI), 89 (Eng SF) and 89 (NZ Final). Three bad ODI-type innings shouldn't erase that pedigree. "He's a matchwinner. His return strengthens the XI," Rahane said on his Hindi channel.

His call on the batting order is clear: keep the top three intact from the World Cup — Samson, Abhishek, Ishan. All three contributed big in the tournament.

On the 15-year-old phenomenon Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rahane's tone shifts to mentor. The IPL 2026 Orange Cap + MVP winner (776 runs, 72 sixes) replaced Samson vs England and has been turning heads. Rahane's advice? Play free, don't overthink. "His game will change in 2-3 years as he keeps playing. The real test stays mentally balanced off the field."

Bottom line: Don't panic-drop proven matchwinners, and give the young guns room to breathe. Smart squad management beats knee-jerk selection every time.

#TeamIndia #SanjuSamson #VaibhavSooryavanshi #Cricket

Source: Crictracker