Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not playing 3rd IND vs AFG T20I?
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi missed first two games of IND vs AFG T20I series.
India head into the third T20I against Afghanistan with a chance to complete a 3-0 whitewash 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 also saw India registering the 7-wicket win with Sanju Samson being the hero. With series already being sealed by India, 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 third 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 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not playing third 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, but made a strong comeback in second match with brutal fifty.
It was expected that India would make some changes for final match, but the Indian management has continued with the same XI.
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.
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.
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