Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not playing against Afghanistan in 1st T20I?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image credit: Agencies) NEW DELHI: India made a big selection for the first T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, with Sanju Samson getting the nod for young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first. India also brought Jasprit Bumrah back into the playing XI and picked specialist spinner Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of Yash Thakur.

Why isn’t Vaibhav playing Sooryavanshi?

India opted for experience in the opening game with Samson being picked in the XI instead of Vaibhav.Iyer also confirmed that Washington Sundar and two other players were left out, making it clear that the team combination was behind the decision.“It’s a luxury to have him (Bumrah) in the squad – he has a great attitude when it comes to winning matches. Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) doesn’t play, Washington and the other two don’t.”Iyer later explained that managing the team combination was difficult.“That’s more complicated I feel, but I would say if Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) is not playing, Washington (Sundar) is not playing and there are two others that you get to know.Samson was named India’s wicketkeeper, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma were also in the batting group.India also picked Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel before going with Arshdeep Singh, Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy as bowling options.Iyer said India had played several matches in Delhi and wanted to take advantage of the conditions by bowling first.“We’re going to bowl first. I mean when you’ve played in Delhi you know what the pitch can offer and we’ve played quite a few matches here. So based on that and looking at the conditions, it’s really both. (In his first ten matches as India captain) It’s been a rollercoaster ride but when you see the previous series we played against Zimbabwe, so optimistic that their approach was so positive. It’s an attitude we have to take in this series as well.”

Jasprit Bumrah is making a comeback

Bumrah returned to the India XI after missing recent assignments following a left knee injury that ruled him out of the ODIs in England and the two Tests in Sri Lanka.Describing Bumrah’s presence in the lineup as a “luxury”, Iyer highlighted his experience and match-winning ability.“(On Jasprit Bumrah being available in the squad) Yes, for sure. I think it’s a luxury to have him in the squad because he’s hugely experienced and has a great match-winning attitude. So we know he’s a match-winner and we know what he can offer.”

Afghanistan make changes

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said his team would bowl first if they won the toss.“We would have bowled first. Unfortunately we lost the toss and we will think about batting. We will try to put a good total on the board.”Zadran said that Afghanistan was excited to host India and asked the fans to support both the teams.“Yes, it’s a great feeling for us. It’s a pleasure to host India, for the first time here in India. We’re trying to enjoy ourselves, we’re trying to have a good series against them.”He added: “We’ve also had a lot of support from the fans in the past and we just asked them to come and support both teams. I hope they don’t forget us but hopefully they come and support their own player, their own team and give the players their energy.”Afghanistan also made changes on their side.“Naveen (-ul-Haq) is not playing, Noor Ahmad, and Abdullah (Ahmadzai) and Naveen-ul-Haq, they are not ready for today’s match. Yes, we will think about him for the second and third matches,” Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Playing XI

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq FarooqIndia: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.