The countdown to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has begun, with the tournament set to commence on February 7th in India and Sri Lanka. Defending champions India were the first team to announce their squad for the tournament. Team India has selected two wicketkeepers in their squad: Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Samson has been a regular member of the T20I team for the past few years, while Kishan has made a comeback to the national team after two years following his impressive performances in the domestic circuit.
Interestingly, both Samson and Kishan possess similar qualities as openers and have considerable experience playing in the top order. Therefore, it will be a tough decision for India to determine which of the two will be given the opening slot in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan? Who will open for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup?
Advantages of Sanju Samson as an opener
For the past few years, Sanju Samson has been India's regular wicket-keeper batsman in T20Is. He impressed everyone by scoring three centuries as an opener in 2024, proving his capabilities at the top of the order. Last year, he was demoted, and Shubman Gill, along with Abhishek Sharma, took his place as an opener.
Due to Gill's poor performance in T20Is, this decision was reversed, and Samson was reinstated as an opener before the T20I series against New Zealand. Samson (55 matches) has significantly more T20I experience than Ishan Kishan (35 matches). While Samson has already scored three centuries, Kishan is yet to register his first.
Advantages of Ishan Kishan as an opener
Ishan Kishan's form is better than Samson's. He scored a quick half-century in the second T20I against New Zealand, helping India easily chase down a big target. The left-handed batsman also set a record for the fastest fifty by an Indian player against the Black Caps. In the third T20I, where Samson was dismissed for a golden duck, Kishan scored 28 runs off just 13 balls.
Ishan Kishan has considerable experience as an opener in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he was the highest run-scorer for Jharkhand while opening the batting. His brilliant batting also led his team to the title.
Who deserves the opening batsman spot for the T20 World Cup 2026?
Ishan Kishan has recently shown improved form, but India should prioritize Sanju Samson as an opener for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Since Abhishek Sharma is a left-handed batsman, playing Samson as the other opener would give the team a left-right combination at the top of the order, which would trouble opposing bowlers.
Furthermore, Samson's batting average and strike rate at the opening position are better than Kishan's. Also, removing Samson from the opening slot last year proved detrimental to both him and the team. Therefore, adopting the same strategy right before an ICC tournament would not be a logical decision. Moreover, Kishan has been out of the national team for quite some time, and immediately entrusting him with the responsibility of opening the innings upon his return would be a risky move.
Also Read: Players who will be out of the T20 World Cup 2026
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