Former India player turned commentator Ajinkya Rahane applauded Team India star Sanju Samson after India’s 3-0 T20I series clean sweep over Afghanistan. He was dismissed for 10 in the opening fixture, but made amends with knocks of 57 and 50 in the remaining matches as well. He also added that, as a senior player, Samson understood that he would have to play a supportive role, with his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma, being the aggressor as well.

Rahane stated in his recent YouTube video: “I am happy for Sanju Samson that he scored runs with consistency. He batted really well and played as per his role. Abhishek Sharma batted differently, and Sanju Samson had to play a supportive role. I think a senior player has this understanding. Sanju deserved to play because he has been performing for many years. His batting position kept on changing. Sometimes he batted at five or six, when the team needed him at four, he batted there. He has batted from one to seven.”

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He also said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi will have to be patient. He opined on the risk of the youngster facing the wrath of fans if he failed early in his career as well. He also shared that the team management should groom Vaibhav and prepare him for the highest level too. Rahane also stated that being part of the Indian dressing room will help him improve his game.

“He is talented and has the skill, but I think he will have to wait. We form opinions very quickly. If a player is doing well, people form that opinion of him. There is nothing wrong with that, but you have to see that it doesn’t affect the mindset of the player. It’s about grooming the players,” he added.

“If he doesn’t perform well, people will be quick to form an opinion that he got an opportunity but didn’t do anything. The more time he spends with the Indian team and the experienced players, the more his game will develop. No doubt, we have seen the kind of talent he has in the IPL, and he has had limited opportunities. But yes, we will have to groom him and give him some time. The challenge for team management is to decide when to give Vaibhav Suryavanshi a chance, and when he gets the chance, not to judge him quickly,” he concluded.