Deep Dasgupta Recommends Testing New Opening Pairs in Afghanistan T20I Series

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has suggested that the Indian team management should explore testing a new opening partnership between Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the upcoming home T20I series against Afghanistan. With both batters included in the squad, Dasgupta noted that experimenting with various top-order lineups will aid long-term preparations ahead of the 2028 World Cup.

What Happened

India announced their squad for a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from September 13 to 17. The selection brings back wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who did not feature in the July tour of Zimbabwe, alongside 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who retained his spot in the national side.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Dasgupta pointed out that India have previously fielded pairings of Abhishek Sharma with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma with Sanju Samson. However, the side has not yet partnered Samson with Sooryavanshi. According to Dasgupta, trying this fresh combination during the Afghanistan matches presents a practical opportunity to evaluate how the two batters perform together at the top of the order.

Key Highlights

• India will host Afghanistan for a T20I series at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium from September 13 to 17.
• Sanju Samson returns to the squad after missing the Zimbabwe tour, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been retained.
• Sooryavanshi previously registered scores of 14, 13, and 15 across three T20Is against England before hitting a 49-ball 81 in Zimbabwe, where he finished as the leading run-scorer in India’s 3-0 sweep.
• Samson had previously been dropped during the England series, temporarily altering his opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma.
• Dasgupta stressed that experimenting with a Samson-Sooryavanshi opening pair does not imply dropping any player permanently.
• A pool of 20 to 25 players is expected to be rotated over the next six to eight months leading into major tournament preparation.

Why This Matters

The upcoming series offers the team management a chance to assess tactical flexibility. Dasgupta emphasised that before entering major events like the 2028 World Cup, the team needs clarity on which individual players and combinations perform most effectively under match conditions. Rather than viewing squad changes as permanent exclusions or comebacks, he noted that T20 cricket over the next six to eight months will involve cycling a broader group of 20 to 25 players until a settled unit is finalised two to three months before a major tournament.

What to Watch Next

Attention turns to the opening match of the series on September 13 in New Delhi, where the team management’s selection will reveal the chosen opening combination from the available pool of Samson, Sooryavanshi, and Sharma.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where will the India vs Afghanistan T20I series be played?

The series is scheduled to be held from September 13 to September 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

What did Deep Dasgupta suggest regarding India’s opening combination?

Dasgupta recommended trying an opening pair of Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, noting that while combinations involving Abhishek Sharma with both batters have been seen, Samson and Sooryavanshi have not yet opened together.

How did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi perform in recent T20I appearances?

Sooryavanshi posted scores of 14, 13, and 15 in three T20Is against England, followed by an 81 off 49 balls during the tour of Zimbabwe, where he ended as the highest run-getter in India’s 3-0 series victory.

Source: Crictracker