ENG vs IND 2026: Why is Sanju Samson not playing in 2nd T20I?

India and England will square off in the second T20I at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday, July 4. The series is evenly poised at 0-0 after the first T20I was washed out. Both teams will be eager to take the lead in what is effectively a four-match series now.

ENG vs IND: Toss update

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and once again opted to bat first. England skipper Harry Brook admitted that he would have also batted first had he won the toss.

ENG vs IND: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes his debut, Jofra Archer returns

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been handed a much-awaited international debut. He becomes the youngest cricketer to make his debut for India. However, Sanju Samson has had to make way for him after registering three consecutive single-digit scores. This was the only change that India made. Meanwhile, England announced their playing XI on the eve of the clash. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue replaced fellow pacers Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood. Harry Brook mentioned at the toss that England have made their plans for Sooryavanshi.

ENG vs IND: What did the captains say?

Shreyas Iyer, Indian captain

We are going to bat first again. (Team changes?) One change, Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) comes in for Sanju (Samson). (An amazing story. He’s about to become India’s youngest debutant. Is he ready?) Absolutely. You’ve seen him in the last couple of months, the way he’s been smashing the ball, taking on the best of the bowlers, shows immense confidence that he possesses. (Have you felt the significant pressure to play him?) Not really. I feel that he completely deserves to be in the squad the way he has performed in the last couple of months and years. He’s someone who doesn’t take pressure at all. The way you see him inside the dressing room, he’s got that unflinching nature. And so good to have him around. (Is it part of your role as captain to help him deal with the unique pressures that come with being a player for India?) I’m sure he’s very well aware of what’s going to come in these matches. And as I mentioned, that he’s got a calm demeanour. He doesn’t take pressure at all. And the way he bats in the nets, the way he takes on the bowlers in the nets, literally shows that what sort of character he is. (From the World Cup winning T20 side now, the captain has gone and the player of the tournament no longer in the team. Is that a reflection on the tremendous competition for places that you have?) Well, absolutely. You see the competition. It’s game after game like the amount of talent India produces over the last couple of months and years. I think it’s pleasing to the eye and also it keeps us especially on the toes as well throughout the series. Because pressure is a privilege, I feel. And if you perform under pressure, you reap the benefits as well.

Harry Brook, England captain

We would have a bat as well. (You’ve got good memories here from the last time, 304 for 2 you posted against South Africa). Yeah, it was an awesome day that. And unfortunately we’re not going to be able to do that again unless we chase down 300. But we’re all really looking forward to getting out there and playing against a strong Indian side. (Two changes, Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer in. Do you see this as your strongest 11 of the squad that’s available now?) Yeah, we’re pretty happy with the selections. Obviously Joff coming back in is a very strong player for us. And Tongy has been knocking the door down for a while now. And I think it’s the right time to give him an opportunity. (They have a threat in the power play, of course. Do you see the extra pace that you have today as a way of combating that?) Both, really. I think they’re both very skillful bowlers. They both have extremely good slow balls as well. And ability to hit Yorkers and nail the length. So it’s just good to have two fast bowlers in the side with good skills as well. (Done your homework on the Boy Wonder?) Yeah, we’ve done a little bit. We’ve got some tactical decisions to… We’ve been thinking about tactical decisions. It’s just about executing when we’re out there.

ENG vs IND: Playing XIs

India

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer(C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.

England

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Harry Brook (C), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.

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