Belfast: Manjrekar warns Sanju Samson after poor show against Ireland

By Karan Malhotra — 27 June 2026 — 3 min read

Samson under pressure after Ireland T20I

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has issued a warning to Sanju Samson, stating that the wicketkeeper-batter cannot afford many failures with young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi pushing for a spot. This comes after India suffered a 34-run defeat in the opening T20I against Ireland in Belfast on Friday. The loss has intensified discussions about whether 15-year-old Sooryavanshi should make his international debut in the second and final T20I.

The Indian team management opted to retain the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson for the series opener, leaving Sooryavanshi on the bench. Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year, managed only five runs from four deliveries before being dismissed in the match against Ireland.

Speaking on Sony Sports Network after India’s defeat, Manjrekar highlighted the growing competition for places at the top of the order. He specifically mentioned that both Samson and Abhishek Sharma need to be alert due to Sooryavanshi’s presence. Manjrekar stated, “Sanju Samson needs to be careful because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is breathing down his and Abhishek Sharma’s necks.”

Sooryavanshi’s strong domestic and IPL form

Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the national side follows a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, where he was named the Most Valuable Player and won the Orange Cap for the Rajasthan Royals (RR). During this campaign, he hammered 776 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 237.30. His explosive T20 form is a key reason for the pressure on the current openers.

Before joining the senior national team for his maiden series in Ireland, Vaibhav also represented India A in a one-day tri-nation A series in Sri Lanka. After registering modest scores of 14, 44, 21, and 38 during the round-robin stage, he delivered a significant performance in the final. He scored 94 runs off 29 balls against Sri Lanka A, which included a record 11-ball fifty, contributing to India A’s 66-run victory in the final.

Despite Sooryavanshi’s impressive form, Manjrekar urged caution regarding international expectations. He noted that the Belfast surface was challenging for batters, and the expansive boundary dimensions would have tested the young player. Manjrekar also recalled that Sooryavanshi had faced similar difficulties in the tri-series in Dambulla, where hitting sixes consistently proved difficult.

Manjrekar’s assessment of the chase and batting order

Manjrekar acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s immense talent but felt that the youngster alone might not have changed the outcome of the opening game. He explained that the difficult chase required an explosive start and sustained momentum, making the task challenging regardless of who opened the innings. “I think he would have done what Abhishek did, slightly better, maybe. A chase where you had to do everything in the first six overs. You had to carry that momentum for the rest of the overs as well. So he could have made things a little easier in the chase, but the target became just too big, and conditions weren’t easy,” Manjrekar said.

He further elaborated on the challenges faced by batters on such surfaces. “And it was a reminder, and I’m very glad that you know I said that earlier as well, that people got an idea as to how sixes are not so easy to hit. So Vaibhav would have managed it in the first six overs, but he also would have had his work cut out later,” Manjrekar added.

Regarding the batting order, Manjrekar maintained that while Sooryavanshi could potentially play down the order, there is currently no vacancy at the top. “And to answer your question, I don’t think it would have made that much of a difference unless you want to play him down the order. Middle order, there is some place there, but at the top, I don’t think there is any place,” he remarked.

India, led by new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, will aim to level the series when they face Ireland in the second and final T20I on Sunday.