Photo via The Times of India

‘It cannot happen’: Ex-India cricketer rules out Sooryavanshi replacing Samson

Sanju Samson’s recent struggles in India’s T20I series against the West Indies have reignited debates over his place in the team, particularly after scoring just 11, 2, 7, and 9 in his last four innings. Despite a strong start to the year with back-to-back fifties against Afghanistan, his inconsistent form—including a nine-run haul in the series opener—has drawn scrutiny.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra dismissed the idea of replacing Samson with rising talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling such speculation damaging to team stability. Sooryavanshi, who opened the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma at the Asian Games under VVS Laxman’s guidance, remains a long-term prospect rather than an immediate contender.

India’s current opening pair, Samson and Sharma, also led their T20 World Cup-winning campaign, reinforcing their selection for the ongoing series. Chopra also highlighted Nitish Kumar Reddy as a potential future option but acknowledged the team’s reluctance to disrupt established lineups prematurely.

With India holding a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after an eight-wicket win in Lucknow, Samson now faces pressure to reverse his recent slump and silence growing criticism of his form.

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