Sanju Samson could face another lengthy absence as India gears up for its final preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup, which kicks off on February 9, 2026. He is not expected to be part of the playing XI when India takes on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting on December 9 in Cuttack.
This series will be India’s second-to-last bilateral series before the World Cup. Following this, the defending champions will play New Zealand in another five-match T20I series in January before heading into the tournament.
Samson, who was on the sidelines during India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, has had a stellar run in the shortest format of the game. After making his debut in 2015, he waited five years for another chance but struggled to secure a spot on the national team despite strong performances in the Indian Premier League. However, following the 2024 World Cup, he was given the opportunity to open alongside Abhishek Sharma. The retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma allowed him to become a regular in the squad, and he quickly made an impact by scoring three centuries in just five matches towards the end of 2024.
But things changed when India brought Shubman Gill back into the T20I setup and named him vice-captain for the Asia Cup. While Samson was given a chance to play in the middle order, he couldn’t solidify his position.
He was ultimately dropped from the T20I lineup during India’s tour of Australia in October.
In a press conference before the first T20I in Cuttack, captain Suryakumar Yadav explained the decision to shift Samson from the opening position while emphasizing that both Jitesh Sharma and Samson are still part of India’s plans leading up to the World Cup.
“We gave Sanju opportunities, and he was willing to bat anywhere. It’s good to see a player ready to take on any role,” Suryakumar said. He added that flexibility is vital, and both players are valuable assets who can open or bat lower down the order.
WHY JITESH OVER SAMSON
With a full-strength team for the upcoming series, the middle order appears stable, featuring Tilak Varma at No. 4, Hardik Pandya at No. 5, and Shivam Dube at No. 6.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar indicated that there likely isn’t a place for Samson in the playing XI, especially at No. 7. He mentioned that Jitesh Sharma’s track record in finishing matches in T20s makes him the preferred choice for the wicketkeeper-batter role.
“While Suryakumar might suggest Sanju’s best spot is at the top, that’s challenging when Tilak, Shivam, and Hardik are available,” Bangar noted. “Jitesh has the ability to hit sixes with the older ball, making him a safer pick.”
Jitesh Sharma’s impressive stats add to his case as a finisher. In 2025, he scored 284 runs at an average of 40.57 and an impressive strike rate of 186.84 in 16 lower middle-order matches. Additionally, in the IPL 2025, he accumulated 261 runs at a strike rate of 176.35 over 11 innings.
Conversely, Samson hasn’t batted below No. 5 in T20 matches this year. After being left out of the T20I squad in Australia, he continued to open for Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
However, if the selectors prioritize recent form, Samson may still get the nod, especially since Jitesh has struggled to find form recently. Samson has managed two fifties and several high scores in his recent matches for Kerala, in contrast to Jitesh’s inconsistent performances.
As the T20 World Cup approaches, India will need to make a decisive choice between these two talented wicketkeepers to ensure consistent opportunities going forward.
