The India National Cricket Team has a busy schedule ahead as they play Afghanistan for a three-match T20I series, and following that, they will be travelling for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Ahead of the Afghanistan series, former India opener Ajinkya Rahane has asked the management to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the forthcoming series.
The Men in Blue side, after the appointment of their new captain, did not have the best of starts in the T20I campaign as they shockingly lost to Ireland and then to England. However, came back strong against the Zimbabwe side and won the series. Last time in the Asian Games, India won gold, and this time also everyone is expecting the same.
Ajinkya Rahane, while speaking on his YouTube channel, stated that the Men in Blue side should continue with their original top 3 batters who played during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He believes that Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma should open, and Ishan Kishan should bat at No.3 for the side, which means there is no place for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
"I feel the top 3 who played in the World Cup should be the top 3," Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel. "Sanju Samson did very well. After that, he was dropped — maybe two or three bad innings — but after that, he was dropped. But I want Sanju Samson to get another chance."
"Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who did well for us, should get chances. Sooryavanshi will get his chance; his time will come. But for now, I feel the top 3 should be Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan — the ones who were our contributors in the World Cup," he added.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play as Sanju Samson returns?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the Player of the Series against Zimbabwe, as he scored a total of 151 runs across three matches against the Chevrons in the 2026 T20I Series. He became the youngest player to score a men's T20I half-century. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also smacked 81 runs off 49 balls, hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes. He opened the innings with Abhishek Sharma in the series.
Sanju Samson was not a part of the Zimbabwe series; he was rested. However, ahead of that, he played against Ireland, and then one match against England, and was dropped when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his debut; after three matches, he yet again played in the same series. He did not have the best of a series against the Irish side and the Three Lions.
Ajinkya Rahane predicts India vs Afghanistan series result
India and Afghanistan will play three T20Is on September 13, 15 and 17, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with Samson, Abhishek, Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi- all four are part of the Men in Blue squad- and it will be a big headache for Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir to pick the top 3 in the series.
This will be a huge test for Shreyas Iyer, as Afghanistan is a very balanced side; however, in the same video, Rahane stated that he believes that India would win the series.
"I feel the Indian team will win the series. It is difficult for Afghanistan, or any other team, when they are playing India in India. The team has gone through and followed the process to get to the stage they are at. The system and BCCI also have to be credited. Afghanistan will fight, but you cannot keep India behind in this format at the moment," he said.
Hence then, the article about ajinkya rahane picks india s top 3 leaves vaibhav sooryavanshi out was published today ( ) and is available on cricketaddictor ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Ajinkya Rahane picks India’s top 3, leaves Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out )
Also on site :
- Fall Enthusiasts Are Racing to Buy The Pioneer Woman’s New Pumpkin Kettle That Doubles as Rustic Decor
- Jimmy Kimmel’s James Talarico Interview Posted To YouTube As Host Calls Out Trump And FCC: “They Want To Make Our Editorial Decisions For Us”
- Iran-US war latest: Trump says he has no regrets about starting war after Houthis capture key Red Sea port