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See the full story · 2 sources'How special is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?': Irfan Pathan sends warning to Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson after Zimbabwe series originally appeared on Cricket News .
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Irfan Pathan believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will make it extremely difficult for any displaced player to regain their place.
The former India all-rounder praised the teenager after his match-winning displays in India 's 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe .
Vaibhav's rise has increased competition at the top of India's T20I batting order, putting established stars under pressure.
Irfan Pathan impressed by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's match-winning impact
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India's latest batting phenomenon, has yet again gained another celebrity fan following his incredible performances in the recently concluded T20I series against Zimbabwe.
While speaking on the teenager's amazing performances in the series, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan stated that the one who misses his place for this young talent will find it hard to get back into the team.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes his mark on the Zimbabwe tour 🏆 The 15-year-old will be pumped up for the upcoming series’ 🤩 #ZIMVIND pic.twitter.com/sraLF6KWBR
— CricketNews.com (@cricketnews_com) July 26, 2026 Irfan's statement came after the Rajasthan Royals and India wonderkid's match-winning performance in the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe, which helped India win 3-0. The teenage opener was the star performer in the series with his batting exploits.
MORE: Youngest POTM winners in international cricket: Sooryavanshi ranks second
What Irfan Pathan said about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rise
Pathan posted on X (formerly Twitter): " Jiski Bhi jagah lega ye bachha use wapis Nahi aane dega... (Whoever's spot this kid takes, he won't let them come back...)
How Special this Vaibhav Suryavanshi is??"
Jiski Bhi jagah lega ye bachha use wapis Nahi aane dega… How Special this Vaibhav Suryavanshi is??
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 26, 2026 With the message from the former Indian cricketer, it shows the high regard he has for the young cricketer's talent, considering that the teenage player has dominated the Zimbabwe bowling attack during the entire series. It has even created another issue regarding India's packed batting order in the T20Is.
MORE: India told to fast-track Sooryavanshi for 2027 ODI WC after IND vs ZIM exploits
Why are Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson under pressure?
India does not lack explosive openers, but the arrival of Vaibhav has made competition tougher than ever before.
Although Abhishek Sharma is well known as one of the deadliest T20 openers in India, his inconsistent run in recent games means that he cannot afford to go into formless patches.
Similarly, the place of Sanju Samson is also in question with more players competing for the few batting slots in India despite his vast experience.
With such match-winning performances by Vaibhav, it may be tough for India selectors to omit him as the team moves towards the next T20 World Cup cycle. The comments from Pathan show how only performances will matter in India's loaded batting lineup.
MORE: Samson unfairly dropped: Abhishek Sharma's failure vs ZIM attracts severe criticism
Whose place is under greater threat?
At this point, it looks like Sanju Samson is under more pressure than Abhishek Sharma.
While Abhishek continues to be India's number one aggressive opening batsman and provides the additional asset of left-arm spin bowling, which makes him valuable in the T20 format. Despite being subjected to criticism due to his lean streaks , his capability of changing the game in the powerplay helps him maintain his edge over other players in the pecking order, especially in the long run.
On the other hand, Samson needs to deal with tough competition in many different ways. While India have wicketkeepers such as Ishan Kishan who can play as middle-order batters, the success of Vaibhav as a top-order batsman is another threat.
Just as it happened following the T20 World Cup , if Sanju is not able to deliver match-winning performances consistently, then it will be more difficult for him to earn a spot in the team due to Sooryavanshi's rise.
Nevertheless, India have enough depth in their ranks, and this contest is far from being over. Vaibhav made a strong statement, but now he has to maintain this level against tougher opposition.
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