Former South African gun fast bowler Dale Steyn has opined that India must back in-form Ishan Kishan ahead of Sanju Samson in the T20 World Cup 2026. While Kishan scored 215 runs in four matches against New Zealand recently, Samson could only manage 46 runs in five games at an average of 9.20.
Kishan scored his runs at an average of 53.75 and a blistering strike rate of 231.18. Furthermore, Kishan opened with Abhishek Sharma in the warm-up match against South Africa and retired out after scoring 53 runs off just 20 balls on Wednesday.
Steyn said Kishan’s position is cemented after he scored runs against the Proteas and India should think too much about the right and left-hand opening batting combination.
“There is always the debate of having a left-right combination at the top of the order, but I think, inside the first six overs, it really does not matter. It is more in the middle overs where you are concerned having that left-right combination. The form that Sanju is in right now, or the lack of form that he is in, I think Ishan just fits right in. If he scores runs, that’s it, it’s cemented, he is opening the batting in the first game of the World Cup,” Dale Steyn said on Jio Hotstar ahead of India’s warm-up clash against South Africa.
On the other hand, former Indian batter Abhinav Mukund also concurred with Dale Steyn and backed the left-handed pair to open the innings for India in the T20I showpiece.
“I think there will be an opportunity for someone like Sanju to get a hit tonight. But Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma will open, because that is something that they have not tried. Possibly, Sanju might bat in a position where Suryakumar Yadav bats usually, that is the kind of thing that this team management does usually,” Mukund said.
“I don’t think Sanju Samson will start as an opening batter come tonight and in the first game of the World Cup. I think Kishan will open tonight, because Sanju Samson, with a lack of form, and lack of runs. It is really unfortunate that he is the one who is going to have to miss out, but I have a feeling that tonight is the first time we are going to see what India plans for the World Cup,” he added ahead of the warm-up match.
India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7.
