Sooryavanshi omitted from India T20I XI in tactical call

India captain Shreyas Iyer confirmed that teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was omitted from the playing XI for the first T20 International against Afghanistan on September 13, 2026, as a tactical decision. The match is being played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. At the toss, Iyer stated there was no injury concern for the 15-year-old. "Vaibhav is not playing, Washington is not playing, and two more," Iyer said, confirming the team combination. The decision sees the return of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who will open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Sooryavanshi had only two days to train with the team after featuring in the Duleep Trophy final. Reports indicate he faced a challenging net session against fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The team management opted for a more experienced opening combination for the series opener. Samson's inclusion comes after he was left out of India's recent T20I series against Zimbabwe. He had previously opened during India's tour of Ireland and England earlier in the year. Sooryavanshi made his international debut during that England series but did not register a major score.