Former India wicketkeeper batter Saba Karim believes the Men in Blue should not replace Sanju Samson for the second T20I against England. Karim said that Samson has performed well in recent months and added that the wicketkeeper-batter is facing unnecessary criticism over his place in the playing XI.
The debate over India's opening combination grew after Samson scored just one run off seven balls before the rain-hit first T20I against England in Durham was abandoned. With teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting for his debut, many fans are calling for changes to the lineup ahead of the second match.
Why Is Everyone Pointing the Gun at Me? - Saba Karim Backs Sanju Samson
Saba Karim believes India should continue with Sanju Samson despite his recent struggles. During a discussion on Star Sports, the former India wicketkeeper said that Samson has consistently delivered in big tournaments and should not lose his place after one poor outing.
"I don't think so at this stage. Sanju Samson is a fabulous player. He has been a match-winner. He had a very good IPL season. Before that, he was the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. What are we looking at? Sanju Samson would be thinking, 'Why is everyone pointing the gun at me?'"
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up after a sensational IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. The 15-year-old scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and won the Player of the Tournament award.
He Has to Earn His Call-Up - Saba Karim on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Karim said that waiting for an opportunity will help Vaibhav Sooryavanshi grow as a cricketer. He added that training with the senior players and spending time in the Indian dressing room will prepare the teenager for international cricket.
"Even for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, this is a good learning curve. He also gets to understand that to get into this Indian team XI, you have to earn your call-up. This environment will help him to grow as a player and as a human being. Although he has got such an incredible amount of talent, when you get into such a competitive environment, you need to bide your time."
India have continued with the opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma despite growing calls for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's inclusion. Samson's recent run of low scores has kept the selection debate alive ahead of the second T20I.
He Will Have to Wait for His Opportunity - Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara agreed with Saba Karim's view and said being part of India's 15-member squad is already a major achievement for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He believes the teenager will benefit from spending time with the national team before making his debut.
"This is a massive opportunity for him. He might not have got a chance in the playing XI, but he is part of the Indian team. It's a big thing if you are in the 15-member squad, and it's a dream-come-true moment for him. When he gets a chance in the playing XI, it will be an even bigger moment than that."
Pujara added that training with experienced players and coaches in England will help Sooryavanshi prepare for international cricket.
"However, as Saba bhai was saying, he will have to wait for his opportunity. It's a big, big positive for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi that he is part of the squad. He gets to train with the players. He gets to be in that team environment where there are coaches and senior players around him whom he can learn from. He is an exceptional talent, but he will have to wait a little for that opportunity."
