India’s T20I opening combination looked like a question that needed an answer a few weeks ago. After the Afghanistan series, it looks more like a luxury problem. Abhishek Sharma has made the left-handed
opening spot increasingly difficult to challenge. Sanju Samson has responded strongly after being left out earlier in the year, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains one of the most exciting young options in the squad.
That gives India three very different profiles competing for two places. Abhishek has arguably done the most to strengthen his position. Against Afghanistan, he scored 82 from 32 balls in the first T20I before making 39 in the second. He then produced one of the most explosive innings of his international career, smashing 108 from 34 balls in the third game. His hundred came from only 30 deliveries, the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter and the third-fastest overall.
The innings also underlined what Abhishek brings that few other Indian batters can. He reached his fifty in 16 balls and hit 11 sixes. Across the series, he scored 229 runs and was player of the series making his case difficult to ignore.
Sanju Samson Has Not Let the Spot Go
Sanju Samson’s case is built on a different kind of knock. The wicketkeeper-batter was one of India’s standout performers during their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, scoring 321 runs at a strike rate of 199.38 according to IPL’s player statistics. He hit three successive fifties during the knockout phase as India went on to win the tournament.
His form dipped after the World Cup and he managed only 33 runs in four innings across India’s Ireland and England T20I tours and subsequently lost his place in the XI, with Sooryavanshi getting an opportunity. Samson’s response against Afghanistan was excellent. After scoring only 10 in the first T20I, he smashed 57 from 22 balls in the second game, scoring his fastest T20I fifty. He followed that with another fifty in the third match.
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There is also Sooryavanshi who has already shown why India are reluctant to look too far ahead without him. The 15-year-old was the leading run-scorer in the 2026 IPL and scored 151 runs in three matches during India’s Zimbabwe tour, where he was named Player of the Series. He did not play against Afghanistan with coach Gautam Gambhir saying the youngster will have to wait for his opportunity.
India’s current dilemma is therefore less about finding an opener and more about managing three players who can make a strong case. Abhishek offers power and left-right flexibility. Samson has experience and has already produced on the biggest T20 stage. Sooryavanshi brings the promise of a player India could potentially build around for years.
30 BALLS. 💯
ONE CENTURY. 🔥
ONE ROAR. 🚩Abhishek Sharma unleashes absolute carnage with the fastest T20I hundred against a Full Member nation! ⚡
Then came the celebration — Har Har Mahadev! 🕉️🙏🏼🚩
#AbhishekSharma #T20I #Cricket #HarHarMahadevhttps://t.co/Ybz6s8z0eZ
— Mr Melody 🌿🎤 (@mrmelody2026) September 18, 2026
The recent Afghanistan series also showed how quickly things can change. Abhishek and Samson opened together and their partnership produced India’s highest-ever century opening stand by run rate, scoring 142 in just 9.5 overs. India have more opening options than they can accommodate. That is a good problem to have, but it also means every few matches can change the conversation.
