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India’s decision to hand 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi his first international cap in the second T20 match against England at Old Trafford made headlines in the cricket world. After poor performance with the bat in the recent matches, the teenage player was included in the playing eleven in place of Sanju Samson. While fans celebrated the arrival of one of India’s brightest young talents, former India batsman Ambati Rayudu reminded everyone not to ignore Sanju Samson’s recent contribution to Indian cricket.
Ambati Rayudu congratulated Vaibhav Suryavanshi on fulfilling his dream of representing India at such a young age and wished him a long and successful international career. Also, he supported Sanju Samson, stating that the Kerala batsman was India’s Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2026 and deserved the support despite a slight dip in form.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi made big records on debut
Suryavanshi registered his name in the record books as soon as he landed on the field of Old Trafford. At the age of just 15 years and 99 days, he became the youngest player to represent India in men’s international cricket, breaking the long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at the age of 16 years and 205 days.
The youngster also became the youngest Indian male cricketer to make his T20 debut and made a memorable start to his innings. He hit two sixes during his innings of 14 runs off 10 balls, which also included Jofra Archer’s trademark six.
His innings ended when he was stumped by Jos Buttler off the bowling of Will Jacques, making him the first Indian batsman to be stumped on T20I debut. He also joined an elite list of Indian batsmen to hit the most number of sixes on T20 debut, finishing with two sixes during his brief but entertaining stay at the crease. India eventually scored 190/7, but England reached the target with six balls to spare.
Ambati Rayudu asks fans not to forget Sanju Samson amid Vaibhav Suryavanshi promotions
After Suryavanshi’s debut, Ambati Rayudu took the x and shared a heartfelt message for both the players.
Ambati Rayudu said, “Let’s think about Sanju Samson… It’s great to see Vaibhav make his debut and it deserves celebration, but let’s not forget that Sanju was the Man of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup just 3 T20 games ago. I just hope he comes back strong and I wish Vaibhav a long and record-breaking career.”
Let’s spare a thought for Sanju Samson.. It’s great to see Vaibhav make his debut and it deserves celebration, but let’s not forget that Sanju was the Man of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup just 3 T20 games ago. I just hope he comes back stronger and I wish Vaibhav all the best too…
– ATR (@RayuduAmbati) July 5, 2026
Ambati Rayudu’s post struck a balanced tone as he celebrated the arrival of India’s latest teenage sensation and urged fans not to judge Sanju Samson based on his recent scores alone. The former India batsman highlighted how quickly perceptions can change in international cricket, especially considering that just a few matches ago Samson was being hailed as India’s best performer in the T20 World Cup.
Ambati Rayudu’s comments also reflect the broader debate surrounding India’s selection. Several former cricketers had earlier urged the team management to continue supporting Samson despite the growing demand for Suryavanshi’s inclusion.
Why was Sanju Samson removed?
He took the decision to keep Samson out of the playing eleven after his disappointing performance with the bat. The right-handed batsman scored 5, 0 and 1 in his last three T20 innings against Ireland and England, but failed to give the explosive start India expected from him at the top of the order.
With Vaibhav Suryavanshi waiting in the wings and calls for his debut growing louder, the Indian think tank opted for a bold change ahead of the Manchester clash. The move gave Kishore a chance to showcase his talent on the international stage, but it also meant Sanju Samson lost his place after just three low scores.
Many people were surprised at the timing of this decision. Samson played a key role in India’s successful T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and was named the Player of the Tournament. Despite those heroics, the team management appeared ready to move quickly to look for new options at the top of the order. Ambati Rayudu’s comments echo that sentiment, suggesting that a player who has performed well for India recently deserved a longer innings before being sidelined.
