The Indian team management appears to have pivoted away from Sanju Samson as their primary wicketkeeping option for the T20 World Cup 2026. In a telling move during the fifth T20I against New Zealand, Ishan Kishan—who was listed as a pure batter on the team sheet—took over the gloves behind the stumps. This mid-match tactical shift suggests that the management is looking for more reliability at the top of the order, and Kishan’s blistering century in that same game has seemingly sealed his place in the starting XI for the upcoming ICC event.
Ishan Kishan shines, Sanju Samson misfires
Samson’s struggle for form reached a tipping point during the five-match series, where he managed a meager 46 runs across five innings. His campaign got off to a rocky start with a score of 10 in the opener, followed by a dismal string of 6, 0, and 24. Even in the fourth T20I, where India was chasing a steep target of 216, Samson failed to provide the necessary spark as the team fell 50 runs short.
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The final blow came at Samson’s home ground in Thiruvananthapuram, where expectations were at an all-time high. Unfortunately, the local hero was unable to turn the tide, departing for just 6 runs off 6 balls. This consistent run of low scores, combined with India's decision to hand the wicketkeeping duties to the in-form Kishan, indicates that Samson is now on the fringes of the squad as the World Cup approaches.
Kishan has enjoyed a stellar series, providing a strong case for his permanent inclusion in the T20I lineup. He played a match-winning hand of 76 in the second T20I and followed it up with a lightning-fast 28 off just 13 balls in the third, helping India chase down 154 in a mere 10 overs. Though a minor niggle kept him out of the fourth game, he returned with a vengeance for the series finale.
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In the fifth T20I, Kishan reached a significant personal milestone by recording his first T20I century. He smashed a relentless 103 off 43 deliveries, anchoring an incredible team total of 271/5. Throughout the series, Kishan has filled the number 3 spot in the absence of the injured Tilak Varma. While Tilak is expected to be fit for the World Cup, the management now faces a difficult decision on how to reshuffle the top order to accommodate both in-form left-handers.
Kishan’s sensational form has made him the clear favorite to retain his place, likely at the expense of Sanju Samson. Samson had been favored over vice-captain Shubman Gill by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, a controversial move intended to provide more explosive opening options. However, after Samson's string of low scores and Kishan's record-breaking resurgence, the wicketkeeper-opener battle seems to have swung decisively in Kishan's favor.