Ajinkya Rahane backs Sanju Samson for Afghanistan T20Is

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'His time will come': Ajinkya Rahane wants Sooryavanshi to wait as Samson returns cricket news image
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Ajinkya Rahane has backed Sanju Samson to reclaim a place in India’s top three for the three-match home T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Rahane wants India to retain the top-order combination of Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan that contributed to the team’s 2026 T20 World Cup title. Samson was named Player of the Tournament during that campaign but was later dropped after a run of low scores on the tour of England.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his international debut in Manchester after Samson was left out and also opened during the T20Is against Zimbabwe. With Samson recalled for the Afghanistan series, Rahane believes the experienced batter should receive another opportunity.

Rahane prefers India’s World Cup top three

Rahane said Samson, Abhishek and Kishan should remain India’s preferred top-three combination because all three contributed during the World Cup-winning campaign.

“I feel the top three should be the same that played in the World Cup. Samson has done well, but he got dropped after two or three bad innings. I want him to get another chance. Abhishek and Ishan also did well for us,” Rahane said in comments reported by The Times of India.

Rahane added that Sooryavanshi would receive further opportunities but should wait while India returns to the combination that succeeded at the World Cup.

Sooryavanshi urged to play with freedom

Rahane wants the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi to trust the approach that earned him an India call-up rather than make major changes at the beginning of his international career.

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“I think he should just play his game right now. He should back the game that led him to come into the Indian team. It is a very early stage for him in his career and in international cricket,” Rahane said.

Rahane also identified mental balance as an important part of Sooryavanshi’s development. The former India batter said technical adjustments could come later as the teenager gains more experience.

Duleep Trophy innings underlined rapid rise

Sooryavanshi strengthened his case with 92 from 81 balls for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, reaching his half-century from 42 deliveries.

At 15 years and 175 days, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a Duleep Trophy half-century. The previous record belonged to Laxman Singh, who was 16 years and 23 days old when he reached the landmark in 1969.

Rahane said Sooryavanshi had already demonstrated consistency in the IPL, for India A and for East Zone. Rahane’s immediate advice was for the young batter to remain mentally stable while continuing to develop his game.