‘Vaibhav is breathing down their necks’ - Sanjay Manjrekar sends warning to Abhishek Sharma & Sanju Samson

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has given a timely reminder to the Indian opening duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma after India’s shocking loss to Ireland in the first match of the two-match T20I series between the two sides at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast on June 26. 

Chasing a target of 183, the reigning World Champions lost opener Sanju Samson very early in their innings, with the T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament scoring just five runs off four balls.

On the other

hand, Abhishek Sharma hit a well made half century despite the loss. With teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting in the wings, Sanjay Manjrekar has given a silent warning to both the opening batters ahead of the second T20I, stating that both of them should be wary of the 15-year-old.

“But Sanju Samson needs to be careful because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is breathing down his and Abhishek Sharma's necks,” Manjrekar said on the Sony Sports Network.

Despite the loss, the former Mumbai batter defended team management’s decision of persisting with the opening duo of Abhishek and Sanju despite Vaibhav’s presence, stating that even his presence would not have made any significant difference.

“I think he would have done what Abhishek did, slightly better, maybe. A chase where you had to do everything in the first six overs. You had to carry that momentum for the rest of the overs as well. So he could have made things a little easier in the chase, but the target became just too big, and conditions weren't easy. And you saw in the tri-series in Dambulla as well how the sixes weren't coming as often to him,” Manjrekar said.

"And it was a reminder, and I'm very glad that you know I said that earlier as well, that people got an idea as to how sixes are not so easy to hit. So Vaibhav would have managed it in the first six overs, but he also would have had his work cut out later. And to answer your question, I don't think it would have made that much of a difference unless you want to play him down the order. Middle order, there is some place there, but at the top, I don't think there is any place," he continued. 

The second and final match of the series will be played on Sunday, June 28 at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast.