India are preparing to switch formats again as attention turns towards the upcoming T20 series against Afghanistan. After their recent Test assignment in Sri Lanka, the focus will now move to the shortest format, with the Afghanistan matches scheduled to be played at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.

One of the biggest talking points ahead of the series is India's opening combination.

Young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi is among the exciting options for the top order, while Sanju Samson has returned to the squad after going through a difficult period in T20 cricket.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter and commentator Deep Dasgupta has now suggested an intriguing possibility: pairing Samson with Suryavanshi at the top of the order.

The combination is not confirmed, but it could offer India an opportunity to experiment with a fresh opening partnership against Afghanistan.

Who Should Open the Batting for India?

India have several options available for the opening positions, making the team management's decision particularly interesting.

Abhishek Sharma has established himself as an aggressive top-order option, while both Samson and Suryavanshi are capable of taking advantage of the powerplay.

With multiple combinations possible, India could either continue with a familiar partnership or use the Afghanistan series to experiment ahead of future assignments.

Dasgupta believes trying Samson alongside Suryavanshi could be worth considering.

Sanju Samson Gets Another Opportunity

Samson's inclusion in the Afghanistan series gives him another chance to strengthen his position in India's T20 plans.

The wicketkeeper-batter has experienced an inconsistent period since India's successful 2026 T20 World Cup campaign. His performances during subsequent assignments against Ireland and England did not meet expectations, and he eventually lost his place in the playing XI.

Samson was also left out of the squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

His return for the Afghanistan series therefore gives him an important opportunity to regain momentum.

The immediate question, however, is whether he will make the playing XI. If selected, another important decision will be where India use him in the batting order.

Deep Dasgupta Backs a Samson-Suryavanshi Experiment

Deep Dasgupta has proposed a new approach to India's opening combination.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, the former India cricketer suggested that the team management could consider sending Samson and Suryavanshi out together.

His argument is based largely on India's existing options and the combinations that have already been explored.

Samson has previously been paired with Abhishek Sharma, while Suryavanshi and Abhishek have also featured as an opening combination.

That leaves Samson and Suryavanshi as another potentially interesting pairing India could test.

The Afghanistan series may offer the team management an opportunity to see how the two batters complement each other.

What Could Vaibhav Suryavanshi Bring to the Top Order?

Suryavanshi's biggest attraction is his attacking approach.

The youngster has attracted considerable attention for his ability to score quickly and take on bowlers from the beginning of an innings. Such an approach can be particularly valuable during the powerplay, when only two fielders are permitted outside the inner circle.

For India, an aggressive start can create an immediate advantage and allow the middle order greater freedom later in the innings.

However, international cricket brings different challenges. Bowlers study weaknesses carefully, and consistency becomes increasingly important.

The Afghanistan series could therefore provide another opportunity to assess how Suryavanshi responds to different bowling plans and match situations.

Samson Could Add Experience to the Partnership

Pairing Suryavanshi with Samson would create an interesting contrast.

While Suryavanshi represents India's emerging generation, Samson has considerably more experience of high-level cricket.

Samson is also naturally suited to an attacking role when he finds rhythm. His ability to play shots around the ground makes him dangerous during the powerplay.

A partnership between the two could potentially give India aggressive options at both ends.

At the same time, both batters naturally like to attack, meaning the team would need to decide whether such an aggressive combination provides the right balance.

What Happens to Abhishek Sharma?

Any discussion about a Samson-Suryavanshi opening partnership immediately raises another question: where would Abhishek Sharma bat?

Abhishek has been one of India's aggressive options at the top and offers the additional advantage of left-handed batting.

A left-right opening combination can sometimes make it harder for bowlers to settle into consistent lines, although team selection ultimately depends on form, conditions and overall balance rather than batting handedness alone.

India could therefore have several possibilities available: Abhishek with Samson, Abhishek with Suryavanshi, or the proposed Samson-Suryavanshi combination.

That competition could make the top-order selection one of the most closely watched aspects of the Afghanistan series.

Afghanistan's Bowling Attack Could Provide a Strong Test

Any new opening partnership will also have to deal with Afghanistan's bowling strengths.

Afghanistan have developed into a highly competitive white-ball side, particularly because of their quality spin options. Their bowlers are capable of putting pressure on opposition batters and forcing mistakes during the middle overs.

That makes a strong powerplay particularly valuable.

If India's openers can score quickly without losing early wickets, they could create a platform for the middle order before Afghanistan's spinners take greater control of the innings.

Could Samson and Suryavanshi Become India's Surprise Combination?

For now, the idea of Sanju Samson opening alongside Vaibhav Suryavanshi remains a suggestion rather than a confirmed selection decision.

However, it presents an intriguing possibility.

Suryavanshi's fearless approach combined with Samson's experience and attacking ability could potentially produce an explosive start. The Afghanistan series could also give India an opportunity to test different combinations without immediately committing to one partnership for the longer term.

Much will depend on the final playing XI and the strategy adopted by the team management.

For Samson, the series represents another chance to make an impact after returning to the squad. For Suryavanshi, it could be another important stage in his rapidly developing international career.

Whether they actually walk out together to open the innings remains to be seen, but the possibility has already added another interesting selection debate ahead of the India-Afghanistan T20 series.