Why did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi miss 2nd IND vs AFG T20I clash in Delhi?
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also missed opening encounter of IND vs AFG T20I series.
India head into the second T20I against Afghanistan with a chance to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The hosts were impressive in the first game, where they clinched a defining victory by seven wickets. Abhishek Sharma displayed a stunning performance with his 82-run innings in the opening match.
The second match scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium has once again placed India’s top-order combination under the scanner. One of the biggest talking points is the continued absence of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Despite the 15-year-old batter’s impressive performances in the shortest format of the game, Sooryavanshi has been left out of the playing XI for the second match against Afghanistan. He was named the Player of the Series in the Zimbabwe series, but India opted for experience during India’s series opener against Afghanistan.
Why is India Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not playing second IND vs AFG T20I?
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The main reason behind Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s snub from the Indian team appears to be team combination rather than an injury or fitness concern.
Abhishek Sharma has been established as India’s first-choice opener, while Sooryavanshi is competing alongside Sanju Samson for the second opening slot. Samson was dismissed for just 10 runs in the first match of the series.
Despite the experienced batter missing out on form for an extended stretch since his historic effort in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian management has reportedly considered giving him another opportunity to make an impact.
The teenager has consistently proved himself across all formats and on every platform he has played over the past few seasons. However, maybe due to a winning record against Afghanistan in T20Is, India are backing their experienced opener and are aiming to get him on track ahead of the upcoming Asian Games contest.
For now, the likely scenario is that Sooryavanshi remains on the bench for the second T20I, with Samson continuing alongside Abhishek at the top. However, it remains a major possibility that if Samson fails to make an impact on this occasion as well, he is likely to be replaced by young Sooryavanshi for the third fixture against Afghanistan.
When did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play his last T20I for India?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played his last T20I for India on July 26, 2026, against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the IND vs AFG series?
As of September 15, 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named in India’s T20I squad for the series against Afghanistan, but he has not played in the first two matches, and nothing can be confirmed about his participation in the third match.
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