Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s presence puts Sanju Samson under pressure ahead of the 2nd T20I

Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Ranchi: Almost four years after his last international appearance at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium, Ishan Kishan returns to familiar territory on Friday when India take on the West Indies in the second T20I, carrying the form and confidence of a player who has fought his way back into the Indian team.Ishan’s last international match here came in January 2023 when India lost a T20I to New Zealand. A lot has changed since then. He subsequently lost his place in the Indian set-up, was dropped from the BCCI’s central contract list and then embarked on a comeback that eventually saw him become an integral part of the national side.Now, with good form behind him and a home crowd in front of him, Ishan has a chance to make his long-awaited return to Ranchi a memorable one. He will be keen to make his own contribution as India look to take a 2-0 lead in the series.Indian batsman Sitanshu Kotak said the change of venue will not change the team’s philosophy.“The way we approach the game, with a fearless approach and putting the team first, that’s the way we will go,” Kotak said ahead of Thursday’s game.Still, Ranchi might require a bit more adaptability than the opening game.Although Kotak said on the eve of the match that “the pitch looked like a good batting track”, the venue has traditionally not been a high-scoring T20 pitch. The 200-run mark has never been crossed in the four T20Is played here, with the highest score remaining India’s 196/6 against Sri Lanka in 2016. New Zealand also successfully defended 176 at the venue.Rain and cool, cloudy conditions could add another variable, while dew could be important later in the evening. With temperatures hovering between 22°C and 24°C during the match, India will need to balance their attack carefully, especially if they finish second.This brings up another multiple choice question. Mayank Yadav was expensive in the opening game, leaving India to consider whether to stick with the fast pace or bring a fit Prince Yadav into the attack. They also have considerable spin depth, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and debutant Naman Dhir among the options. But if there is dew, India’s spinners could find their task much more difficult.The selection sub-area is also increasing in the batting department. The presence of teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has increased the pressure on Sanju Samson, who has struggled for runs in his last four T20Is, scoring 11, 2, 7 and 9. With the teenager waiting in the wings, another low score could make the competition for the Kerala batsman’s spot more interesting.Meanwhile, West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul admitted that his young attack, with most of his members having made less than 15 or 20 T20I appearances, has failed to execute his plans consistently enough.