Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was once again left out of India’s playing XI for the third and final T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, September 17. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and opted to bowl first, but India decided to stick with a largely unchanged combination. The only alteration saw Yash Thakur replace Arshdeep Singh.
With India already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, many expected Sooryavanshi to receive an opportunity after missing the first two games. However, the 15-year-old was again overlooked, leading to a strong reaction from fans on social media. Several supporters questioned the decision to include the youngster in the squad without giving him a game during a series that had already been decided.
One fan wrote on X: “I think the Indian management’s setup completely destroys the confidence of youngsters like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Don’t pick him in the squad if you aren’t going to play him in the XI.”
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Another fan questioned the selection strategy, writing: “Bizarre selection by this T20 team management..The only exciting part of this lopsided series was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and he didn’t get a single game.”
I think the Indian management’s setup completely destroys the confidence of youngsters like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Don’t pick him in the squad if you aren’t going to play him in the XI. Honestly..he’s better than everyone else in the team.#VaibhavSooryavanshi#India#IndvAfg#GG
— Manash Saharia (@ManashSaharia17) September 17, 2026
Some players perform once in 10 games and still get endless chances, while Vaibhav can’t even get a game against Afghanistan. He was Player of the Series in the last T20I series, yet they still keep him out. Clearly, they just don’t want him in the team.
— TheTechMonk (@The_Tech_Monk) September 17, 2026
They don’t play Suryavanshi even in a dead rubber match. 🤦♂️
This management is such an insecure bunch. What exactly is your problem guys?
What is even the point in having him in the squad if you were never going to play him?
— Cricketologist (@AMP86793444) September 17, 2026
@BCCI enough said , we professionals wanted to see the prodigious child of India playing today. If you guys don’t want to play him , don’t sell your tickets in name of him. I am not watching any matches until he plays. Just like Sachin , Vaibhav also has become emotion for us.
— Mk (@BhaskarMrinal) September 17, 2026
The truth is, it feels like they were afraid of what might happen if Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had played today and smashed a hundred off 30-35 balls or produced another match-winning innings. That would’ve made their decisions for the upcoming matches much harder.
It feels like they… pic.twitter.com/271AGzB0ra
— 𝐕𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬🎧 (@VtheThinker) September 17, 2026
What kind of shithousery is this man, they are not playing Vaibhav even in a dead rubber. The only reason is they fear he might blast a hundred and then they will play him in the next series.
Why couldn’t Abhishek or Ishan be rested even if you didn’t want to drop Samson? So…
— Geopolitik (@geopolitiik) September 17, 2026
Sooryavanshi’s omission was particularly notable considering he featured in all three T20Is during India’s previous series against Zimbabwe. He made the most of that opportunity, emerging as India’s leading run-scorer as the visitors completed a 3-0 series sweep.
The left-hander accumulated 151 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10. His campaign included two half-centuries and highlighted his ability to score quickly at the international level.
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Sooryavanshi had endured a difficult beginning to his T20I career during India’s tour of England but responded strongly against Zimbabwe. His return to form also came after an outstanding IPL 2026 season. The teenager won the Orange Cap after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a remarkable strike rate of 237.30. His IPL campaign included one century and five fifties.
With such numbers behind him, his continued absence from India’s playing XI against Afghanistan has naturally become a major talking point among fans. However, the team management’s selection decisions remain a matter of strategy, with India already having secured the series before the final match.
