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Former Team India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has warned Sanju Samson after the opener's disappointing start in the T20I series against Ireland. Sanjay Manjrekar said that Sanju Samson cannot afford another failure, with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting for an opportunity in the playing XI.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, suffered a shocking 34-run defeat to Ireland in the opening T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday. The loss has increased calls for Sooryavanshi to make his international debut in the second and final T20I on Sunday if the team management decides to make changes.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Is Breathing Down His Neck - Sanjay Manjrekar Sends Warning to Sanju Samson
For the series opener, India retained the T20 World Cup 2026-winning opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, leaving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench. However, Samson failed to make an impact, scoring just five runs from four balls during the chase.
Speaking on Sony Sports Network after the match, Sanjay Manjrekar said that the current openers are under pressure. He added that the teenage batter's outstanding IPL 2026 season has made competition for places much tougher.
"But Sanju Samson needs to be careful because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is breathing down his and Abhishek Sharma's necks," Manjrekar said on Sony Sports Network.
It remains to be seen whether India make changes for the second T20I on Sunday. If selected, the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi will become the youngest player to represent the Indian men's team.
At the Top, I Don't Think There Is Any Place - Sanjay Manjrekar on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Sanjay Manjrekar believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could have made a bigger impact than Abhishek Sharma during the powerplay, but he does not think the teenager alone would have changed the result. He suggested the middle order could be a more suitable role if India decide to include him.
“I think he would have done what Abhishek did, slightly better, maybe. A chase where you had to do everything in the first six overs. You had to carry that momentum for the rest of the overs as well. So he could have made things a little easier in the chase, but the target became just too big, and conditions weren't easy. And you saw in the tri-series in Dambulla as well how the sixes weren't coming as often to him,” Manjrekar said.
"And it was a reminder, and I'm very glad that you know I said that earlier as well, that people got an idea as to how sixes are not so easy to hit. So Vaibhav would have managed it in the first six overs, but he also would have had his work cut out later. And to answer your question, I don't think it would have made that much of a difference unless you want to play him down the order. Middle order, there is some place there, but at the top, I don't think there is any place," he added.
There Are No Options in the Bench Strength - Paul Valthaty
Former India batter Paul Valthaty believes India are unlikely to change their batting lineup for the second T20I against Ireland because of the limited batting options available in the squad. He stated that leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is a strong contender to return to the playing XI.
“I think the Indian team might not skewer that way, where they might just continue with the same batting combination, because it also augurs out that there are no options in the bench strength which is available to them in Ireland," said Valthaty.
"You've got only Suryansh Sjedge and the remaining all-rounders there. So, probably I just see a Ravi Bishnoi might sneak into the playing level, and that might just settle that, especially from over number six onwards, they might have a much smarter option in Bishnoi," he added.
