Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has warned Sanju Samson that he cannot afford too many failures as competition for places in India’s T20I top order intensifies. With teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting in the wings after a record-breaking rise, every opportunity at the top of the order now carries extra weight, especially after India’s surprise 34-run defeat to Ireland in Belfast.

India, led by Shreyas Iyer, were stunned in the first T20I of the two-match series at the Civil Service Cricket Club, where the visitors failed to chase down 183 and were bowled out for 148. The result has added fresh scrutiny on the opening combination, particularly after India backed the same top pair that lifted the T20 World Cup in 2026. Sanju Samson, however, could not make his chance count, scoring just five off four balls before India’s chase unravelled.

Speaking after the match on Sony Sports Network, Sanjay Manjrekar said the openers are now under pressure, especially with Sooryavanshi pushing hard for a place in the playing XI. The former batter pointed out that the 15-year-old’s sensational IPL 2026 campaign has made selection calls far more difficult for the team management. “But Sanju Samson needs to be careful because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is breathing down his and Abhishek Sharma’s necks,” Manjrekar said.

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There is growing speculation that India may consider changes for the second and final T20I on Sunday, particularly if the team management wants to test the bench strength after the disappointing loss. If Sooryavanshi is picked, the 15-year-old will become the youngest player to represent the Indian men’s team, a milestone that has already generated huge interest around the tour.

Manjrekar, though, felt Sooryavanshi would not have completely transformed the result on his own. He suggested that the teenager may have been able to provide a better start than Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay, but also acknowledged that the chase became too steep and the conditions were not straightforward. In his view, Sooryavanshi’s most realistic opportunity could come lower down the order rather than as a frontline opener.

“I think he would have done what Abhishek did, maybe slightly better. But the target was still too big, and the conditions were not easy. He might have made the first six overs a little easier, but he would have had his work cut out later as well. At the top, I don’t think there is much room for him right now,” Sanरay Manjrekar explained.

Former India batter Paul Valthaty also weighed in, saying India are unlikely to change their batting order drastically because of the limited options available on the bench. He suggested that leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is the strongest contender to return to the XI, especially if India wants more control after the powerplay.

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“I think the Indian team might stick with the same batting combination because the bench strength is limited here. There are only a couple of all-rounders available, so I can see Ravi Bishnoi coming in. That could give India a smarter option from over number six onward,” Paul Valthaty said.

With the series on the line, India now faces a crucial selection call as the debate around Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and the team’s opening structure gathers pace.