IND vs NZ 2026: ‘I hope Samson and Ishan score runs’ - Aakash Chopra hopeful of both wicketkeepers contributing in second T20I

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has opined that Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are vying for an opener’s spot in India’s preferred playing XI for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He expressed hope that both

wicketkeeper-batters rediscover their scoring touch in the second T20I against New Zealand.

The second match of the five-game T20I series between India and New Zealand will be played in Raipur on Friday, January 23. In the series opener in Nagpur, which India won by 48 runs, Samson scored 10 off seven balls, while Kishan managed eight off five deliveries.

"Is there anything to correct? I still feel Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Ideally, this conversation shouldn't have happened, and it wouldn't have happened either had Sanju Samson been playing continuously and scoring runs. One wouldn't have sat with a magnifying glass," Chopra said on YouTube channel.

"However, since fortune is with Ishan Kishan at the moment and the way things have changed, if Sanju Samson scores runs, it's great, but if he doesn't and Ishan scores runs, it will be a point of discussion whether Ishan can be played in place of Sanju Samson. So, I just hope that both score runs," he added.

Chopra also expressed hope that Suryakumar Yadav plays a more substantial innings in the second T20I against New Zealand. He cited the examples of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from India’s away ODI series against Australia to underline the importance of spending time in the middle and building an innings.

"You want a few more runs from Suryakumar Yadav because form can truly be judged only if he scores 50, 60, 70, or 100 runs. If those runs aren't scored, then that is a problem with bad form, if you have not spent enough time on the pitch," said Chopra.

"That happened with Rohit Sharma in Adelaide. He stood there and played a lot of balls. It happened with Virat Kohli in Sydney. He stood there and once someone plays a lot of balls, he comes in form. However, if you get out for 30-odd after playing 20-odd balls, then if you have two innings with low scores, you are back to square one. That's why it's necessary for him to score runs," he added.