Key facts
- Former India cricketer opposes Sooryavanshi replacing Samson
- Samson described as 'fabulous' by the former player
- Debate centres on whether Sooryavanshi has 'earned' a T20 India spot
- Sooryavanshi rose to fame through his IPL performances
The question of whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready to break into India's T20 setup — and at whose expense — has drawn a sharp response from a former India cricketer, who insists that the teenager should not replace Sanju Samson in the side. The former player described Samson as 'fabulous' and issued a clear message: places in the Indian team have to be earned, not handed out on the basis of promise or public excitement.
Sooryavanshi burst into the cricketing spotlight with a stunning debut in the IPL, scoring at a strike rate that turned heads across the country and fuelled calls for his immediate elevation to the national side. But veterans of the game have begun urging caution, pointing out that the jump from domestic and franchise cricket to international cricket is a significant one that requires more than raw talent.
Samson, meanwhile, has had a complicated relationship with consistent selection for India despite a series of impressive performances at both IPL and international level. His supporters argue that he has more than proven himself and should not be the one to make way simply because a younger player has generated headlines.
The debate highlights a perennial challenge for Indian selectors — one of the most talent-rich cricket nations in the world, where brilliant players routinely wait in line. How quickly Sooryavanshi is brought in, and whether it comes at Samson's cost, will be one of the more closely watched selection decisions of the coming months.