IND vs SA: Is Sanju Samson Benched? The Heartbreaking Selection Twist Ahead of World Cup Opener
As India prepares to kick off its T20 World Cup 2026 campaign , speculation is rife about the fate of Sanju Samson in the playing XI — especially for the crucial opener against South Africa. While Samson was included in India’s 15-man World Cup squad after a strong showing as an opener late last year and the exclusion of Shubman Gill from the squad, his spot in the final XI has become far from guaranteed. Earlier in the lead-up to the tournament, Samson regained prominence by opening with Abhishek Sharma, a role that saw him amassing significant T20I runs and even earning three centuries in 2024-25. Yet inconsistent form in recent series — notably low scores in India’s T20I series against New Zealand — has plunged his selection prospects into doubt. The immediate pressure on Samson’s place comes not only from his own struggles but from the red-hot form of Ishan Kishan, who has seized opportunities with aggressive batting and has been practiced in both opening and wicket-keeping roles....