Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra recently shared his thoughts on the inclusion of Sanju Samson in Team India’s playing XI for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. Chopra believes that Samson is not yet a certainty in the team and that either Samson or Ishan Kishan could feature as the preferred keeper-batter, depending on their performance in the ongoing series against New Zealand.
India and New Zealand are currently engaged in a five-match T20I series, which serves as the final preparation for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled to commence on February 7. In the first T20I in Nagpur, India emerged victorious by 48 runs. However, both Samson and Kishan failed to make a significant impact as they were dismissed cheaply.
Chopra expressed his views on ESPNcricinfo, stating that it is too early to determine if Samson has secured his spot in the playing XI for the T20 World Cup. He mentioned, “I’m not 100% certain yet because I think eventually it will be a toss-up between Sanju and Ishan Kishan. The next few games might actually give us an answer.”
In the match against New Zealand, Samson scored 10 runs off seven balls before falling to Kyle Jamieson, while Kishan managed only eight runs off five balls before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. As both players failed to deliver in the first T20I, their performances in the upcoming matches will be crucial in determining their place in the team.
Meanwhile, skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has been under scrutiny, showcased glimpses of his form by scoring 32 runs off 22 balls in the first T20I. Despite his promising start, Chopra emphasized that Yadav still needs to play a big innings. He remarked, “He did hit a couple of wonderful shots to begin, but the way he got dismissed, eventually, you’ll say a glass is half full or half empty. You want to actually believe that it’s half full and you’re getting there. But let’s be fair, it’s between half full or half empty. It’s not full yet because the 50 hasn’t come. The 100 hasn’t come.”
Suryakumar had a challenging year in T20Is in 2025, scoring only 218 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16. Therefore, his performance in the ongoing series against New Zealand will be crucial in determining his form and place in the team for the T20 World Cup.
As the T20 World Cup approaches, the performances of Samson, Kishan, and Yadav will be closely monitored to finalize the playing XI for the tournament. Chopra’s insights provide an intriguing perspective on the selection dilemma facing Team India as they aim to assemble a competitive squad for the prestigious event.
