Ravichandran Ashwin has said that Sanju Samson is currently doing enough to keep 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of India's T20I playing eleven. Ashwin shared his views on his YouTube channel 'Ash ki Baat' following India's third T20I against West Indies in Indore on October 11, 2026, a match India won by 14 runs.
Ashwin acknowledged that Sooryavanshi deserves more chances but faces intense competition for a spot in the side. The teenager made his T20I debut on July 4, 2026 against England and last played for India on October 3, 2026 against Pakistan. He was excluded from the playing eleven for the third consecutive match of the ongoing West Indies series.
Ashwin pointed to Abhishek Sharma as the reason the competition for the opening slot is effectively between Samson and Sooryavanshi. He described Abhishek as untouchable in the current setup, saying the team management believes he can win matches on his own. Abhishek and Samson occupy the two opening spots in India's T20I team.
"I just feel Sanju is doing enough at the moment to keep Vaibhav out of the team. Unfortunately, Vaibhav should be given an opportunity. But what can we do? Such things happen in life. This battle between the two is going on because the Indian team management and everyone knows that Abhishek Sharma cannot be touched. Abhishek Sharma is an exceptional player. If his bat gets going, he always wins matches for India," said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
How has Abhishek Sharma's recent form strengthened his position?
Abhishek Sharma's performances have been a key reason why the opening combination has remained settled. In the third T20I against West Indies in Indore, he scored 69 runs off 30 balls, contributing directly to India's 14-run victory. Ashwin noted that Abhishek has been scoring runs on difficult wickets over the last two to three months, which he sees as a sign of upward progress rather than stagnation.
Ashwin was effusive in his praise for Abhishek's batting style and consistency.
"He is a fabulous player. He will keep learning little by little. And what I am seeing as a big positive is that he has been scoring runs on difficult wickets over the last two or three months. This tells me that his graph is moving upwards. He is not stagnating, nor is he going down. So, Abhishek Sharma is a fabulous player, and I have a lot of time for him. I always enjoy watching him play because of his style, grace, and timing. He makes it look so easy," he added.
With Abhishek firmly entrenched at the top of the order, the available opening slot has become a straight contest between Samson and Sooryavanshi, as Ashwin outlined.
What has Sanju Samson contributed in the West Indies series?
Samson's consistent output with the bat has been central to Ashwin's assessment. Across three T20I matches against West Indies, Samson scored 96 runs, with his best performance being an innings of 82 in the second T20I in Ranchi.
That level of output has made it difficult for the team management to drop Samson, even as Sooryavanshi waits for an opportunity. Ashwin's view is that Samson's current form is the primary factor keeping the young Rajasthan batter on the sidelines, rather than any lack of ability or potential on Sooryavanshi's part.
Sooryavanshi, who was born on March 27, 2011, remains one of the youngest players to represent India at the T20I level. Ashwin's comments reflect the reality that strong performances from established players can delay opportunities for younger cricketers, regardless of their talent.
