Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is still waiting for his first appearance in India's T20I setup, but former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has warned opener Sanju Samson, who opened the innings and failed to make an impact during India's first T20I against Ireland in Belfast. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter managed only five runs from four deliveries before being dismissed by Ireland bowler Jai Moondra. Speaking on Samson's dismissal, Manjrekar pointed out that competition for places in the Indian team is becoming intense, and with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rapid rise, players must consistently deliver if they want to hold on to their positions. 

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

The young talent earned his maiden India call-up on the back of his blistering campaign at the IPL 2026, where he amassed 776 runs. However, he was not included in the playing XI in the first T20I against Ireland. It now remains to be seen whether the management brings him in for the second match to be played on Sunday. 

"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 stated.