T20 World Cup 2026: Former great advises India to pick Ishan Kishan over Sanju Samson

India’s dominant showing against New Zealand at home could hardly have gone better on paper. A resounding 4–1 T20I series win not only underlined their depth and firepower, but also reinforced the belief that they are among the favourites heading into the upcoming T20 World Cup. Yet beneath the celebrations lies a thorny selection dilemma that the team management can no longer afford to dodge.

At the centre of the debate is the wicketkeeper-batter slot, where Sanju Samson’s prolonged struggle with form has collided head-on with Ishan Kishan’s explosive resurgence. While skipper Suryakumar Yadav chose not to be drawn into a firm call after the series, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was far more forthright in his assessment.

Samson, who had earlier been shuffled down the order during the Shubman Gill experiment and then left out altogether, was brought back as an opener with an eye on World Cup preparation. However, the move failed to deliver the desired results. Across five matches against the Black Caps, Samson mustered just 46 runs, never crossing 25 and repeatedly falling early, often inside the powerplay - a worrying trend for a player expected to provide stability at the top.

Also Read: IND Vs NZ: India’s ‘pocket-sized dynamite’ Ishan Kishan seals opener slot in T20 World Cup?

In stark contrast, Kishan seized an unexpected opportunity with both hands. Drafted in after Tilak Varma was ruled out due to injury, the left-hander made a compelling case for himself by racking up 215 runs in just four innings from the No. 3 position. His series featured both a half-century and a commanding century, the latter coming in the final match at Thiruvananthapuram - notably Samson’s home venue.

That hundred, Gavaskar believes, may have tilted the scales decisively. Speaking during the broadcast, he argued that Kishan’s current form makes him almost impossible to ignore, especially when weighed against Samson’s lack of confidence and consistency.

“In tournaments like the World Cup, you can’t gamble on players who are struggling for runs,” Gavaskar said. “Form comes and goes, but right now, Ishan has it. Sanju is a quality cricketer, no doubt, but the runs just haven’t been there.”

Gavaskar further pointed out that Tilak Varma, when fit, remains a reliable option, making Samson’s path back into the playing XI even more complicated. Tilak has been sidelined for nearly a month after undergoing surgery following a freak injury during the Ranji Trophy, but he is expected to return in time for the World Cup, with two warm-up games pencilled in to assess his readiness.