Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Ishan Kishan will play ahead of Sanju Samson in the T20 World Cup 2026. Samson managed only 46 runs in five matches of the series at an average of 9.20 against the Kiwis, which is concerning ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Samson didn’t look at his best technically in the T20I series against the Blackcaps as he was playing with a predetermined mindset. On the other hand, Kishan scored 215 runs in four matches at an average of 53.75 and a blistering strike rate of 231.18. The southpaw scored a blistering knock of 103 runs off just 43 balls against the Kiwis on Saturday.
“Ishan Kishan is a certainty. Now he will only play in the XI. Unfortunately, Sanju Samson’s story is over for the time being. He went for the last World Cup as well, but didn’t play. He won’t start this World Cup either in the playing XI. This has been confirmed,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra said Ishan Kishan is reaping the rewards for the hard yards he has put in
“When God is writing your fate, he just asks you to work hard and see what he does. That is happening with Ishan Kishan at the moment. The hard work he did, he was away from the Indian team for three years, he is getting all of that back with dividends. He scored a century,” he added.
The renowned commentator highlighted that Kishan’s comeback depended on a lot of people after he went through a difficult period.
“This comeback story is one for the ages. He was in oblivion. The central contract was also taken away. He asked for a mental break. Then he said he was ready, but nobody was listening. However, suddenly things change, and you find yourself in the center of the action, and in that too, you were dependent on a lot of people,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer said Ishan Kishan was able to grab his opportunity with both hands in the absence of Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson’s poor form.
“You were dependent on Sanju Samson’s form and Tilak Varma’s injury. Both things go in your favor. It was a century of timing that converted an opportunity into an excellent outcome. It was a century that came under pressure in an audition before the World Cup. The century came at the right time and in a brilliant fashion,” Chopra observed.
India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7.
