Big sign for the T20 World Cup in Sanju Samson’s relief of wicketkeeping duties?

After Tilak Varma recovers from his injury, Sanju Samson is expected to be removed from the India playing XI. During India's decisive victory against New Zealand in the series' final Twenty20 International, captain Suryakumar Yadav's team management gave a clear indication of this progress.

Sanju Samson was stripped of his wicketkeeping responsibilities following yet another defeat against New Zealand, and it appears that the team administration has chosen to remove him from the playing XI for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Before the fifth Twenty20 International, Samson was India's designated wicketkeeper. The team sheet showed Kishan's name as a batter.

After pressing the selectors' hand with a truckload of runs in domestic cricket, Kishan was drafted into the T20 World Cup squad at the last minute. After Tilak Varma's injury, he immediately found himself in the starting lineup. He didn't squander the opportunity.

Kishan had the greatest strike rate of any hitter from a full-member country in a T20I bilateral series with at least 200 runs, with 215 runs at an average above 50 and a strike rate of 231.18 during the series. The pivotal moment occurred on Saturday when he scored his first century in Twenty20 International cricket and made a number of quick cameos that frequently disrupted New Zealand's bowling strategy.

Ishan Kishan would replace Sanju Samson in the starting lineup once Tilak Varma recovers, according to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former India opener Aakash Chopra. In the fifth Twenty20 International, Kishan scored 103 runs off just 43 balls, breaking the 100-run threshold for the first time in a Twenty20 International as the Men in Blue amassed a massive 271/5.

In the absence of Tilak Varma, Kishan batted at number three against New Zealand. With Samson seemingly being dropped, he appears to be almost certain to maintain his position. Samson was chosen to start for the World Cup team instead of Shubman Gill. In order to keep Samson in the team, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee had eliminated the then vice-captain.

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