Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar questioned India’s decision to leave him out Saint Samson for the second T20I against England, as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was handed his international debut, saying the move made little sense Taking to X after the match, Manjrekar welcomed the 15-year-old’s debut but wondered why Samson had been left out of the playing XI.“Great to see Vaibhav in India colours. But what about Samson! Dropped?? Are you kidding me!”, Manjrekar posted.Then he added: “No, I think, (Samson was) injured. I hope it’s an injury. Or it’s the strangest selection.”Manjrekar also suggested that India might include both the players in the XI. “(Samson) could have easily beaten at 3 if you wanted to get Vaibhav,” he wrote.
Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batsman from Samastipur in Bihar, on Saturday became India’s youngest international cricketer, breaking the record held by Sachin Tendulkar for almost 37 years.His debut, however, did not go as planned. Opening the innings with Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored just 14 off 10 balls, hitting two sixes before being dismissed.India posted 190 for seven, but England chased down the target with four wickets in hand and an over to spare, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening match was washed out.Jacob Bethell played an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes. The left-hander also took control of the chase by smashing 29 runs off Ravi Bishnoi, bringing up his half-century and helping England complete the chase in 19 overs.
