Sanju Samson’s Struggles and the Rise of Ishan Kishan

Sanju Samson’s performance has become a major concern for Team India as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. The right-handed batter has struggled to find his form in the opening three T20Is against New Zealand, raising questions about his place in the team. With the clock ticking rapidly, the pressure is on Samson to deliver, especially since Ishan Kishan has been performing exceptionally well at No. 3.

The situation took a turn when Shubman Gill replaced Samson as an opener, sparking discussions about whether this was unfair given Samson’s achievements, including three T20I tons for India in 2024. However, Gill’s lack of success led to his removal from the T20 World Cup squad, allowing Samson to return to his role as an opener. Despite this, Samson’s recent performances have been disappointing, with scores of 10, 6, and 0 in the first three matches. In contrast, Kishan, who stepped in for the injured Tilak Varma, has shown consistency with scores of 8, 76, and 28.

This stark difference in performance has prompted Kris Srikkanth to comment on the situation, stating that Kishan is now undroppable, while Samson may once again be left out of the team. Srikkanth also pointed out the inconsistency in Samson’s play, noting that he has not capitalized on his opportunities effectively.

Srikkanth’s Comments on Samson and Kishan

Srikkanth emphasized that it’s no longer possible to drop Ishan Kishan from the team, highlighting his devastating impact as a player compared to Sanju Samson. He expressed sympathy for Samson, suggesting that he seemed desperate and had the potential to perform better if he were more sensible.

“The problem with Samson is his consistency. He makes a hundred but doesn’t score much thereafter. His performance has been quite up and down over the last 1.5 years. It has been a year and a half since his century against South Africa,” Srikkanth noted.

In the third T20I against New Zealand, where India successfully chased down 154 with 60 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand, Samson was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Matt Henry. This performance further intensified the scrutiny on Samson, with Srikkanth suggesting that Kishan’s recent whirlwind knocks have secured his spot in the playing XI, potentially leading to Samson’s exclusion.

“Samson has been unlucky sometimes, but at the end of the day, you are facing competition. You can’t help it. Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma are a certainty. Obviously, Samson will miss out. Kishan is a keeper-batter too, and he is in such a dangerous form,” said Srikkanth.

Positive Developments for India

Despite the challenges faced by Samson, there have been positive developments for India in the series against New Zealand. Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav played crucial roles, hitting unbeaten 68 and 57 respectively to help India secure a comfortable victory.

Suryakumar Yadav, who had not scored a fifty for India in 2025, made a strong comeback in 2026 by smashing back-to-back half-centuries. This resurgence has provided a significant boost for the team heading into the T20 World Cup. Srikkanth praised Suryakumar’s return to form, highlighting his leadership and confidence.

“Most importantly, Suryakumar Yadav has returned to form. He led India to victory in the last game, and now he is back in full force. He is back to his old self. The momentum has returned to Surya, which is very important for a captain and batsman. He is gaining confidence. Also, the way Jasprit Bumrah bowled. Any bowler would’ve been bowled with that. He visualised that ball,” said Srikkanth.