Former Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has put his weight behind Sanju Samson as opener ahead of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Samson had scored 321 runs in five matches of the T20 World Cup at a strike rate of almost 200 and thus played a key role in taking India to glory.

The Kerala batter also scored 477 runs in 14 matches for Chennai Super Kings. However, he was dropped from the team on the UK tour after managing three low scores (two innings against Ireland and one against England).

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his T20I debut against England in the second T20I and Samson was then dropped for three games. Samson returned to the playing XI for the final game but could not get a big score. The flamboyant batter was also rested from the Zimbabwe tour.

However, India has named Samson in the playing XI ahead of Sooryavanshi for the opening T20I against Afghanistan.

“I feel the top three should be the same that played in the World Cup. Samson has done well, but he got dropped after two or three bad innings. I want him to get another chance. Abhishek and Ishan also did well for us. Vaibhav will get his opportunities, and his time will come. But for now, I feel the top three should be Samson, Abhishek, and Ishan, who were our contributors in the World Cup,” he said in a video on his Hindi YouTube channel.

Rahane expressed his delight after Samson was named in India’s squad after missing the series against Zimbabwe.

“I am happy to see Sanju Samson back in the team. He was the ‘Man of the Series’ in the World Cup. It has been up and down, and things were happening to him that were not in his control. But he is a match-winner, and his return strengthens the team.”

On the other hand, Rahane urged Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to continue playing his natural game at the top level.

“I think he should just play his game right now. He should back the game that led him to come into the Indian team. It is a very early stage for him in his career and in international cricket. As of now, there is no need for him to think a lot, and he should be set free. His game will eventually change after two or three years, as much as he keeps playing. It will be important for him to maintain balance. Apart from cricket skills, it is important to stay balanced off the field. That will be a challenge for him,” he said.

Sooryavanshi recently scored 192 runs in five innings of the Duleep Trophy.