The second T20I between India and Ireland will be played on June 28 in Belfast.
Despite calls for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's inclusion in the India XI for the second T20I against Ireland, former Indian player Aakash Chopra has stated that he will neither bench Sanju Samson nor Ishan Kishan.
The expert stated that he would anticipate the top three players from the first T20I to score runs. On Friday, June 26, India lost the opening T20I against Ireland by 34 runs in Belfast. On Sunday, June 28, the two-match series' final game will take place at the same location.
Aakash Chopra reckoned that Samson and Kishan should continue in India XI, though there are calls for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion.
"The big question will be whether Vaibhav should be played in the next match. It's a tough one. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson didn't score runs. No one except Abhishek Sharma scored runs. There is a clamor. It might be politically incorrect, but I would still not play him. I will still not drop Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan.
I will field the same top three and expect a different outcome, and it's par for the course. We might score 250 if we get to bat first next time. We will bat like that because we are capable of doing that," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Samson fell for five runs in four balls, becoming the maiden wicket of debutant Jai Moondra, while Ishan Kishan made one run in five balls. Only Abhishek Sharma (49) made some substantial runs, with Shivam Dube contributing 25 runs.
However, Chopra noted that he was worried about Samson’s spot in India XI.
"I am slightly bothered about Sanju. Either Sanju or Ishan would have to go out if a place needs to be made for him (Suryavanshi), and the fingers start getting raised more when you lose. Then the one who is sitting out is good, but as the team starts losing, he starts becoming better, as all of us expect that he will win the match, although there is no guarantee," he said.
The former cricket player turned pundit acknowledged that Samson and Ishan Kishan were both bowled cheaply in the series opener, but he believed that Kishan would likely have more chances.
Chopra expressed hope that the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter gets among the runs in the second T20I, despite believing that Samson is under increasing strain.
"In such a scenario, Sanju getting out was not a good thing. Ishan Kishan also got out, but he is coming after scoring a hundred in an ODI just now. I feel Ishan Kishan will get a slightly longer rope. Sanju's luck hasn't been good in any case.
So, the pressure is building on Sanju. You are driving a car, and in the rearview mirror, you see someone coming close to you very fast. Sanju is feeling that pressure. I hope he scores the runs in the next game," he stated.
Sanju Samson has aggregated 1,404 runs at an average of 28.08 in 55 T20I innings and was the Player of the Tournament for India in their T20 World Cup 2026 win recently.