Sanju Samson is fast losing his spot in the T20I team. Despite backing the wicketkeeper batsman from the Indian setup, the national selectors are now facing an opposite opinion from former cricketers and fans after his below-par performance in the last three T20I matches.

Samson has been in poor form this year, smashing 5, 0, and 1 runs in his last three innings against Ireland and England. There is a question being raised if India should continue to persist with their experienced campaigner or give a chance to teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his debut on the international stage.

Irfan Pathan Identifies Sanju Samson’s Technical Weakness

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that Samson’s problem was not just a matter of form but also due to a technical problem, and that opposition bowlers are making sure to keep a ball outside off-stump to keep his face closed so he cannot open his blade and play on the off-side.

“You want to take Sanju Samson’s wickets, even if you don’t take his wickets, you try and keep the ball outside the off-stump because his face is closed, and he tries to play on the off-side, and at times his face opens up so the ball goes into his front pad,” he said on JioHotstar, while analyzing the batter’s poor form.

Sanju Samson indeed struggled with the problem as he failed to capitalize on the stroke that worked so well for him during the 2022 T20 World Cup. In the first match of the T20I series against Ireland, Samson tried to drive the first ball outside the off-stump but inside-edged the ball onto his stumps. In his next game, a rain-curtailed match against England, Samson attempted the same shot and was caught at the third man.

Meanwhile, the clamor for the debut of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is growing stronger by the day. Vaibhav, a 15-year-old sensation, has stunned everyone by registering some spectacular knocks in the 2026 IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals.

Scoring 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 IPL at a strike rate of 237.30, the young prodigy has become one of the most-talked-about batters in the cricketing world. Sooryavanshi, who remained an unused substitute for the first two matches of the T20I series against Ireland, is now being anticipated to make his debut soon.

“If I have to make a guess in the history of the IPL as to which year’s individual achievement stands out tallest, it would be the year Virat Kohli had such a brilliant run in, and if I have to make a guess, it would be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026. The way he has faced the best bowlers in the world, even though in the conditions of India, has been phenomenal,” former India Women’s wicketkeeper Saba Karim said on. JioStar.

“If I have to make a guess in the history of the IPL as to which year’s individual achievement stands out tallest, it would be the year Virat Kohli had such a brilliant run in, and if I have to make a guess, it would be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026. The way he has faced the best bowlers in the world, even though in the conditions of India, has been phenomenal,” former India Women’s wicketkeeper Saba Karim said on. JioStar.

It has been tremendous to watch him. Not only are we fans waiting for his debut, but the whole world is waiting to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat like he has been batting in the IPL. I have faith in his ability to score big runs. three formats. I’m dead sure about it.”

With the recent defeat against England in the T20I series, Samson needs to perform better than ever to help India register their first win in the upcoming series against the Englishmen, and if he fails to do so, Sooryavanshi could soon be in line for his debut.