‘Let’s reflect on Sanju Samson’: Former cricketer reacts to India dropping World Cup hero

Former India batsman Ambati Rayudu has backed Sanju Samson after the keeper-batsman was dropped from India’s playing XI for the second T20I against England and urges fans not to forget the winning role he played in India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph. India made a major change at Old Trafford by handing 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his senior international debut in place of Samson. While there was widespread excitement over the move, Rayudu felt it was important to acknowledge the contribution of the player who came through. The former Chennai Super Kings batsman congratulated Sooryavanshi for reaching the international stage but stressed that Samson’s recent achievements should not be overlooked.

Rayudu Post

“Sparing our thoughts for Sanju Samson…we are very happy to see Vaibhav make his debut and it deserves to be celebrated but let’s not forget that Sanju was the man of the tournament in the T20 World Cup just 3 T20 matches ago,” Rayudu wrote on X. Samson lost his place after a disappointing outing in the opening T20I against England, where he managed just one run from seven deliveries. With India looking to freshen up its batting order, the selectors have turned to the highly-rated Sooryavanshi, who is widely regarded as one of the country’s brightest young batting talents. While Rayudu welcomed the teenager’s inclusion, he also expressed confidence that Samson would bounce back from the setback. “I just hope he comes back strong and I also wish Vaibhav a very long and record-breaking career,” Rayudu added. Samson’s omission became one of the biggest talking points of the series, especially considering his remarkable performances during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign. The wicket-keeper batsman was named player of the tournament after playing a crucial role in India’s winning campaign, and his dismissal after a solitary low score became the subject of debate among fans and former cricketers. Sooryavanshi’s debut innings lasted just 10 balls, but the 15-year-old still offered glimpses of his immense talent. He scored 14 runs, hitting two sixes before being bowled, showcasing the fearless approach that earned him his first India call-up. Despite the teenager’s historic debut, India failed to secure a victory. Chasing 191 by four wickets, England went 1-0 ahead in the five-match T20I series. With the opening match a failure, England now need just two more wins to seal the series, while India need to win each of the remaining three matches to turn the match around.