As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 nears, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7, defending champions India boast immense batting talent but face
a pivotal debate on their opening pair.
Sanju Samson's recent form has raised serious concerns. In the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, he scored just 40 runs across five innings- 10, 6, 0, 24, and 6, for a dismal average of 9.20. Multiple single-digit scores and a golden duck underscore his inability to convert starts, fueling doubts about his reliability as an opener in the World Cup.
Ishan Kishan to replace Sanju Samson?
In stark contrast, Ishan Kishan is firing on all cylinders post-return. He topped the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26 run charts with 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of 197.32, including two centuries. His T20I exploits against New Zealand included a blazing 76 off 32 balls, with a fifty in 21 deliveries, making his explosive left-handed opening style and keeping skills ideal alongside Abhishek Sharma.
Elevating Kishan paves the way for Tilak Varma to anchor the middle order. The young left-hander excels in T20Is with high averages and strike rates during chases, offering stability between openers and finishers like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. His left-right combinations and high-pressure prowess add vital balance. Tilak is also set to join the India Squad ahead of the T20 World Cup, and is set to keep his place as well if deemed fit.
Varun Chakravarthy over Kuldeep Yadav?
Kuldeep Yadav has been fantastic for India across formats but they may try with Varun Chakravarthy as the sole spinner. With Axar Patel as another spin option, the left-arm chinaman may have to bide his time on the bench.
India Predicted Playing 11 for T20 World Cup 2026
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
