Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opened for India at the Asian Games, but with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson likely to start the West Indies T20I series in Lucknow, the 15-year-old may have to wait.
India start a five-match T20I series against West Indies at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday 6 October 2026, just three days after beating Pakistan in the Asian Games gold-medal match in Japan. The big question in the build-up is at the top of the order, and it could leave teenage Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the sidelines for the opener.
| The preview at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Match | India v West Indies, 1st T20I |
| Venue | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow |
| Date | Tuesday 6 October 2026 |
| Series | Five T20Is, running to 17 October |
| Asian Games openers | Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with Sanju Samson at No. 3 |
| Likely top three here | Two of that trio, with Ishan Kishan expected at No. 3 |
| Cricinfo's read | Samson likely to stay, Abhishek a lock, Sooryavanshi may have to wait |
The Sooryavanshi selection debate
Twelve of the 14 players from the Asian Games squad are also in the squad for these T20Is, so most of the gold-medal group stays together. The exception is the top three. At the Asian Games, Abhishek and Sooryavanshi opened with Samson at No. 3. Cricinfo's Ashish Pant writes that India are likely to pick only two of the three for the West Indies series, with Kishan slotting in at No. 3.
Pant writes that Samson is likely to keep his place after back-to-back fifties in the T20Is against Afghanistan, and that Abhishek is expected to be a lock. That could mean Sooryavanshi, who is 15, has to wait for his opportunity. Nothing has been confirmed, and the team will only be known at the toss.
Other reports point the same way. Crickettimes, quoting Zee News, says captain Shreyas Iyer sees no need to rush the 15-year-old and that Abhishek and Samson will get priority. Iyer leads the side with Tilak Varma as vice-captain for the series. Pundits' predicted XIs leave Sooryavanshi out as well: Cheteshwar Pujara's Star Sports XI and Aakash Chopra's Star Sports XI both have him on the bench. According to Sportskeeda, Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz that India cannot keep the Asian Games top three together because they need more pacers at home.
- Abhishek Sharma is expected to open.
- Sanju Samson is likely to retain his place after two straight fifties against Afghanistan.
- Ishan Kishan is expected at No. 3, which could leave Sooryavanshi on the bench.
West Indies come with reinforcements
West Indies bring in Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd, and they arrive on the back of their win in the 3rd ODI in New Chandigarh. Akeal Hosein is set to become only the fourth West Indies player to feature in 100 T20Is. The history favours India, who have won 20 of 31 T20Is against West Indies and are yet to lose a T20I at the Ekana Stadium.
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