Mohammad Kaif has questioned India’s decision to leave out Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the first T20I against Afghanistan, saying the move points to confusion over the team’s best opening combination.
Kaif’s concerns
Sooryavanshi had been named Player of the Series in India’s 3-0 T20I win over Zimbabwe. With Sanju Samson returning to the squad, however, the young opener was kept on the bench.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Kaif asked what Samson had done in the interim to earn the opportunity. He pointed out that dropped players usually regain form through other cricket, and that nothing of the kind had happened here. He also wondered why India had not stayed with the Zimbabwe combination.
In his view, the management is hesitating, with Samson, Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma competing for two opening berths. He suggested Sooryavanshi might be asking what he had done wrong.
The match itself
India still started the three-match series with a seven-wicket victory in New Delhi. Afghanistan posted 156 for 8, with Azmatullah Omarzai unbeaten on 64, while Arshdeep Singh took 3 for 19.
In reply Abhishek Sharma hit 82 from only 32 balls, including a fifty off 22 deliveries, and India reached the target in 13.4 overs to lead 1-0.
