Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s presence puts Sanju Samson under pressure ahead of 2nd T20I | Cricket News

Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Ranchi: Nearly four years after his last international appearance at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium, Ishan Kishan returns to familiar territory on Friday when India take on the West Indies in the second T20I, carrying the form and confidence of a player who has fought his way back into the Indian team.Ishan’s last international game here came in January 2023, when India lost a T20I to New Zealand. Much has changed since then. He subsequently lost his place in the India set-up, was dropped from the BCCI central contract list and then embarked on a comeback that has eventually seen him become an integral part of the national side.Now, with good form behind him and his home crowd in front of him, Kishan has a chance to turn his long-awaited return to Ranchi into a memorable one. The timing could hardly be better. India made a statement in the opening T20I, chasing down West Indies’ 172 in just 14 overs. Their aggressive approach left the visitors’ bowling attack with little room for error, and Kishan will be keen to make his own contribution as India look to take a 2-0 lead.India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the change of venue would not alter the team’s philosophy. “The way we are approaching the game, with a fearless approach and putting the team first, that’s the same way we will go,” Kotak said ahead of the game here on Thursday.Yet Ranchi could demand a little more adaptability than the opening game did.Though Kotak said on the eve of the match that “the pitch looked a good batting track”, the venue has not traditionally been a high-scoring T20 ground. In four T20Is here, the 200-run mark has never been breached, with India’s 196 for six against Sri Lanka in 2016 remaining the highest score. New Zealand have also successfully defended 176 at the venue.Rain and cool, cloudy conditions could add another variable, while dew may become important later in the evening. With temperatures expected to hover between 22°C and 24°C during match time, India could have to balance their attack carefully, particularly if they end up bowling second.That brings another selection question. Mayank Yadav was expensive in the opening game, leaving India to consider whether to persist with the express quick or bring fit-again Prince Yadav into the attack. They also have considerable spin depth, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and debutant Naman Dhir among the options. But if dew sets in, India’s spinners could find their task considerably harder.There is also a growing selection subplot in the batting department. The presence of teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has increased the pressure on Sanju Samson, who has struggled for runs in his last four T20Is, scoring 11, 2, 7 and 9. With the teenager waiting in the wings, another low score could make the competition for the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter’s spot more interesting.West Indies, meanwhile, need a vastly improved bowling effort. Bowling coach Ravi Rampal admitted that his young attack, with most of its members having fewer than 15 or 20 T20I appearances, failed to maintain its execution for long enough in the opener.“It just boils down to the experience of the bowling group and then the execution of our plans. We weren’t good enough to execute for a longer period during the game,” Rampal said.That execution will be tested again by an Indian batting line-up that showed little hesitation in taking on the bowlers from the outset.But amid all the tactical questions, Ranchi’s biggest storyline remains Kishan. His journey back to India has already been significant. A substantial innings at the ground where his international journey briefly stalled would add another satisfying chapter to his comeback story.For Kishan, Friday is more than another T20I. It is a homecoming, and an opportunity to make it count.