Despite scoring three centuries in a span of five games as an opener for India, Sanju Samson’s opening spot is always in question in T20Is. He was first made a scapegoat when the management wanted to slide in Shubman Gill up top, getting demoted before getting dropped altogether. Now that Gill has been axed by the team and Samson has received his much-deserved opening spot back again, there’s another name who is now banking on his doors. None other than Ishan Kishan, who came in as a late pick for India before the T20 World Cup 2026.
Ishan Kishan route to Team India
Kishan’s comeback has been heartening to watch as well. A player, who was part of the ODI World Cup 2023 and has the fastest ODI double century to his name, wasn’t even on BCCI’s central contract list a year ago. He wasn’t in the international setup but Kishan grinded it out in domestic cricket before delivering an all-timer season at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). He led Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT win in history and made 517 runs at an unbelievable strike rate of 197.33.
The timing of the tournament proved perfect for Kishan, as he got an entry to India’s T20 World Cup 2026 team straightaway. The same squad is playing the ongoing T20Is against New Zealand. The stars have aligned perfectly for Kishan, as he has got an opportunity to get into the starting XI from the word go due to an injury to Tilak Varma. Had Tilak been fit, he would’ve batted at number three but it is Kishan who is making it count and the pressure piles on Samson.
Sanju Samson under pressure
Samson received the vote of confidence after his brief cameo in the 5th T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad. He showed that he can wreak havoc at the same pace like Abhishek Sharma and with him being a keeper, it gives a lot of options for India later. However, Kishan provides exactly the same traits as well. Samson must be feeling the pressure now. Especially after what Kishan did in the 2nd T20I in Raipur.
Coming back after a low score in the previous game, Kishan blazed away the New Zealand bowlers with aplomb and hammered a 21-ball fifty, the fastest in IND vs NZ T20Is. Where Samson failed again, Kishan made the most of the batting conditions and was simply outstanding with his approach. He bludgeoned the Kiwi bowlers to all corners of the park and scored 76 off just 32 balls. Operating at a strike rate of 237.50, Kishan helped India become the fastest team to chase down a 200+ target.
How can Kishan replace Samson?
Former Indian opener also shared his views after Kishan’s breathtaking innings and said that the pressure will be on Sanju Samson’s shoulders now. He even stated that if Samson fails to score in the next couple of games, we might see Kishan replace him.
“Comebacks are tougher than debuts. And after getting dismissed for not too much in the first game, very few people will go out with the same kind of bravado and confidence like Ishan did in the second game. So he has done his chances no harm. Pressure on Sanju now. If he scores the runs, he stays afloat. Otherwise, it’s Ishan Kishan who will be playing in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram,” said Aakash Chopra on ESPNcricinfo.
“So, you score runs. Team India pivots. They drop their vice-captain. They get a keeper to open (the innings). But again, Ishan is a backup keeper. And then a top-order left-handed batter gets injured for the first three games. And therein, Sanju also fails. This is not the script that you write yourself. There is somebody else who’s taking care of that script.”
We all know that this ongoing series against New Zealand is acting as a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup 2026. Players who show form in these five games will be getting a shot in the playing XI come the T20 World Cup at home. Now, Samson remains the first-choice keeper in the team but perhaps two more failures can force the Indian management to look at Kishan.
Think if Kishan blazes another superb fifty in no time and Samson continues to fail, there’d be no justification to keep Kishan on the bench. You cannot play both once Tilak Varma gets fit and gets his number three slot back. Hence, there soon will be a toss-up between Samson and Kishan. All eyes will be on the third T20I now, set for January 25 in Guwahati.
Ishan Kishan can force India to drop Sanju Samson before T20 World Cup 2026 Inside Sport India.
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