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Sanju Samson or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? India's opening dilemma for 2nd T20I against WI

India’s T20I series against the West Indies has thrown open a selection debate at the top of the order, with Sanju Samson’s recent form forcing a rethink. The Kerala batsman has managed just 9, 7, 2, and 11 runs in his last four innings, dragging down opening partnerships to totals of 7, 12, 2, and 29—figures that reflect a clear slump after his World Cup heroics.

Meanwhile, the middle order, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, has stepped up with Iyer himself scoring his first T20I century in the format, masking the top-order struggles. The dilemma now is whether to retain Samson alongside Abhishek Sharma or give teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi another crack at opening the innings, despite his limited international experience so far—scores of 14, 13, 15 against England and 18, 35 at the Asian Games hint at promise but not yet consistency at the highest level.

India’s coaching staff faces a tough call: Samson’s track record demands trust, but his recent failures risk undermining that faith, while Sooryavanshi’s raw talent could be wasted if rushed into a pivotal series role.

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