Sanju Samson's Opening Spot in Jeopardy as Ishan Kishan Makes Explosive Comeback

• Sanju Samson, despite an excellent T20 opening record for India, has struggled in the first two matches against New Zealand, scoring 10 and 6 runs.
• His poor performance puts his opening slot at risk, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching.
• Ishan Kishan has made a spectacular comeback to Team India, scoring 76 runs off 32 balls in the second T20 against New Zealand.
• Kishan's strong domestic performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) with 517 runs at a 197 strike rate led to his return and inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
• Former opener Aakash Chopra suggests that if Samson continues to fail, Ishan Kishan could replace him as Abhishek Sharma's opening partner.

Why It Matters: Sanju Samson's opening position is under threat due to poor form and Ishan Kishan's explosive return.