Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar questioned India’s decision to leave out Sanju Samson for the second T20I against England, as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was handed his international debut, saying the move made little sense Taking to X after the match, Manjrekar welcomed the 15-year-old’s debut but wondered why Samson had been left out of the playing XI.“Great to see Vaibhav in India colours. But what about Samson! Dropped?? Are you kidding me!,” Manjrekar posted.He then added, “No, I guess, (Samson was) injured. Let’s hope it’s injury. Or it’s the most bizarre selection.”Manjrekar also suggested that India could have included both players in the XI. “(Samson) could have easily batted at 3 if you wanted to get Vaibhav in,” he wrote.
Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batter from Samastipur in Bihar, became India’s youngest international cricketer on Saturday, breaking the record held by Sachin Tendulkar for nearly 37 years.His debut, however, did not go as planned. Opening the innings with Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored just 14 off 10 balls, hitting two sixes before being dismissed.India posted 190 for seven, but England chased down the target with four wickets in hand and an over to spare, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening game was washed out.Jacob Bethell starred with an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes. The left-hander also took control of the chase by scoring 29 runs off Ravi Bishnoi, bringing up his half-century and helping England complete the chase in 19 overs.
