‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is breathing down his neck’. Manjrekar’s blunt warning to Sanju Samson |: Cricket News:
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believe: Sanju Samson cannot afford too many setbacks with young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting in the wings, after India’s disappointing start to the T20I series against Ireland.India, led by the new T20I captain Shreyas Iyersuffered a 34-run defeat in the first game of the two-match series in Belfast on Friday. The defeat intensified calls for 15-year-old Sooryavanshi to make his international debut in the second and final T20I at the same venue on Sunday.For the series opener, the Indian team management retained the opening pair of T20 World Cup 2026 heroes Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, leaving Sooryavanshi on the bench. Whether the young batting prodigy will get his opportunity in the next game remains one of the biggest talking points ahead of Sunday’s contest.Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year, failed to make an impact against Ireland. The wicketkeeper-batter managed just five runs from four deliveries before being dismissed.Speaking on Sony Sports Network after India’s defeat, Manjrekar said Samson and Abhishek Sharma must remain alert because of the increasing competition for places at the top of the order.“But Sanju Samson needs to be careful because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is breathing down his and Abhishek Sharma’s necks,” Manjrekar told Sony Sports Network.Despite backing Sooryavanshi’s immense talent, Manjrekar felt that the youngster alone could not change the outcome of the opening game. He explained that the tough chase required an explosive start as well as sustained momentum, making the task challenging regardless of who opened the innings.“I think he could have done what Abhishek did, a little better, maybe. A chase where you have to do everything in the first six overs. You have to carry that momentum for the rest of the overs as well. So he could have made things easier in the chase, but the target became too big, and the conditions were not easy. said.The former India batsman also pointed out that Sooryavanshi experienced similar challenges during the tri-series in Dambulla, where clearing the ropes was always difficult. While he believes the youngster could have made a difference during the Powerplay, Manjrekar maintained that there is currently no vacancy at the top of India’s batting order.“And it’s a reminder, and I’m very glad you know I said that earlier too, that people are getting an idea of how sixes are not so easy to hit. So Vaibhav could have managed it in the first six overs, but he could also have his work cut out for him later on. And to answer your question, I don’t think it made much of a difference. Don’t think there’s any room,” he added.
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