"Debate Band Kardi": Ex-India Star On Sanju Samson Amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Buzz
Sanju Samson played a blazing 57-run knock off 22 balls in the second T20I against Afghanistan.
- Sanju Samson scored 57 runs off 22 balls against Afghanistan in the second T20I match
- "Samson batted amazingly. The way he has batted, debate band kardi (ended the debate)," said Mohit Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Samson have been contesting for remaining one opener's slot in India's T20I team
Sanju Samson finally managed to get a big score next to his name in T20I cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter shone in the T20 World Cup 2026 by winning the Player of the Tournament award, but he has failed to replicate that consistency after India's title victory. In the Indian Premier League that followed the world event, Samson did register big scores, but once again, consistency was missing. A similar showing from the veteran after resuming international cricket saw Team India give opportunities to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
However, for the first two T20Is against Afghanistan, India backed Samson, and he repaid the faith shown in him with a blazing 57-run knock off 22 balls in the most recent game. His innings was laced with seven fours and four sixes.
Former India players Mohit Sharma and Mohammad Kaif heaped praise on Samson following his knock against Afghanistan.
"The world champions played like world champions. Sanju Samson batted amazingly. At times, we are too quick to judge him. But the way he has batted, debate band kardi (ended the debate)," Mohit told Cricbuzz during a discussion.
Adding to it, Kaif said, "The biggest thing is that Sanju Samson has scored runs."
The former international batter further pointed out that Sooryavanshi entered Team India's playing XI picture due to Samson's inconsistency. He added that if the wicketkeeper-batter performs consistently, Sooryavanshi will remain benched.
Sooryavanshi has had quite an interesting start to his international career. He made his debut under testing conditions in England and came up with scores of 14, 13 and 15 in the three matches he played there. For the last game of the five-match series against the Three Lions, India dropped Sooryavanshi for Samson.
The 15-year-old finally announced his arrival in the following three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. He scored two fifties and ended up being the Player of the Series as well as the Player of the Match in the final game. The teenage sensation scored 151 runs.
India Cricket Team
Afghanistan
Sanju Samson
Mohit Sharma