Will Sanju Samson edge out Ishan Kishan for a spot in India’s T20I squad? Both wicketkeeper-batters impressed in the Duleep Trophy recently, with each scoring a century, but Samson outshone Kishan with 196 runs compared to 123 (in four innings for India D and India C respectively). The big question remains: will those numbers be enough to erase the memory of Samson’s two ducks in his last two T20Is against Sri Lanka in July? Given his strong form in the Duleep Trophy in Anantapur, there’s a good chance Samson might just reclaim his place, though the competition remains fierce.
Kishan recently made headlines for complying with the selectors’ diktat to participate in domestic cricket, fueling speculations that he could be recalled to the Indian team for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Before being sidelined almost a year ago – for reasons not entirely related to his on-field performance – Kishan had nearly cemented his place in India’s white-ball setup. His consistency had even earned him a spot in the 50-over World Cup squad.
Now, with renewed focus on domestic cricket, Kishan was in with a chance for a recall into the India team but it looks he may well have to wait longer. Kishan has been selected in the Irani Cup squad, while Samson is not part of the October 1-5 five-day fixture, which wraps up in Lucknow just a day before the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior on October 6. While selectors can always pull a player from domestic matches for international duty, it appears that, for now, Samson may remain the preferred choice. With 30 T20Is to his name, Samson may be called upon to open the innings, a role he undertook during the series against Sri Lanka albeit without success.
There is a need for an opener in the T20Is since the selectors, keeping more important Test duties in mind, are unlikely to pick Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The two had opened in the T20Is in Lanka but both are expected to be kept out, just like all other Test players including Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, who were part of the T20I squad in Sri Lanka. The decision may open up a chance for someone like Sai Sudarshan, who featured in a T20I in Zimbabwe in July. The Tamil Nadu and Gujarat Titans batter is part of the Irani squad though. Suryakumar Yadav will be back as captain of the squad which will also have Hardik Pandya in it.
After the first T20Is on October 6 (Gwalior), the teams will play the remaining two on October 9 (New Delhi) and October 12 (Hyderabad).
