Cheteshwar Pujara has backed Sanju Samson to open alongside Abhishek Sharma for India’s T20I series opener against West Indies, arguing that the team should not disrupt a performing player simply because an exceptional young talent is waiting for an opportunity.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan’, Pujara said Samson’s experience and recent form should give him the edge over 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while insisting that the teenage batter will have plenty of opportunities as India’s T20 schedule continues.
“I would go with Sanju Samson because he is an experienced player who has won a World Cup,” Pujara said. “You can’t suddenly make a change when someone is performing well just because you have an exceptional talent sitting on the bench.”
The five-match series against West Indies begins in Lucknow on Tuesday, with India’s opening combination among the key selection questions heading into the contest.
Why Pujara prefers Sanju Samson over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Pujara believes Samson’s current form and experience should take precedence, particularly with the Kerala batter entering what he described as the peak of his career.
“Sanju Samson is equally talented. He has also performed really well and is actually at his peak right now,” Pujara said.
The former India batter also argued that there is little need to rush Sooryavanshi into the XI given India’s packed T20 calendar.
“There will be injuries in between, so Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will definitely get opportunities. It’s not like he won’t get a chance,” he said.
Pujara added that remaining with the squad could itself be valuable for Sooryavanshi as he continues to develop.
“And it will be good for him only, even if he isn’t in the playing XI; he can learn a lot of things by staying with the squad. As he matures, he will get his opportunities.”
Pujara backs Abhishek Sharma to continue at the top
Pujara was equally emphatic about Abhishek Sharma’s position at the top of India’s T20I order.
He described Abhishek as one of the most exceptional players in the format, pointing to his strike rate, consistency and ability to provide fast starts.
“Given his strike rate, his consistency, and the starts he gives Team India, he is probably one of the most exceptional players in the T20 format,” Pujara said.
Abhishek briefly lost the No. 1 ranking during the World Cup but returned to the top after recovering his form.
However, Pujara identified West Indies off-spinner Roston Chase as a potentially significant threat, particularly given the number of left-handers in India’s batting line-up.
“Indian left-handers have struggled a little bit against off-spin. Abhishek has gotten much better against off-spinners now, so it won’t be easy for Roston Chase,” he said.
Tilak Varma emerging as India’s finisher
Pujara also highlighted Tilak Varma’s development as a finisher, suggesting India may have found the type of middle-order batter they have been seeking in T20 cricket.
The challenge for a player batting at Nos. 5, 6, or 7, according to Pujara, is adapting to the match situation. That could mean playing conventional cricket if wickets fall early or attacking almost immediately when coming in during the closing overs.
“Tilak has shown that he has that ability to take on the bowlers at the death at will,” Pujara said.
He pointed to Tilak’s recent numbers in the final four overs as evidence of that evolution, noting that the batter has struck at 246 in overs 17 to 20 in his last few innings.
“That requires a batter with the skill to hit boundaries regularly and score consistently, and Tilak has done that time and again recently,” Pujara added.
Pujara’s India XI for first T20I vs West Indies
Pujara’s preferred XI features Samson alongside Abhishek at the top, followed by Ishan Kishan at No. 3 and captain Shreyas Iyer at No. 4.
Tilak would bat at No. 5, with Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy providing further batting depth and all-round options.
Pujara’s proposed XI is:
1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Sanju Samson
3. Ishan Kishan
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. Tilak Varma
6. Shivam Dube
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
8. Axar Patel
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Arshdeep Singh
11. Prince Yadav
Pujara believes the combination of Dube and Nitish gives India the flexibility to cover four overs between them, while Axar adds another bowling option alongside his batting.
He also backed Kuldeep Yadav to carry his impact from the ODI setup into the T20I side, calling him an “X-factor”.
“Arshdeep is a straightforward choice, and then Prince Yadav, because of his experience and recent IPL performances,” Pujara said.
India vs West Indies T20I series begins in Lucknow
India and West Indies begin their five-match T20I series at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday.
The match starts at 7pm IST, with the remaining games scheduled for Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
For India, the opening combination will be one of the immediate talking points, particularly with Samson’s experience competing against the potential inclusion of Sooryavanshi.
Pujara’s view is clear: India’s current performers should retain their places, while Sooryavanshi can use the opportunity to learn from the squad before his turn arrives.
“India are playing a lot of T20 matches, so it’s not like he won’t get a chance all year,” Pujara said. “But he will have to wait for his opportunity.”
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