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The T20 World Cup 2026 will see India fielding a squad that possesses both strength and balance. The team appears stable because players understand their responsibilities. The team needs to resolve one main question which asks who will partner Abhishek Sharma to open the innings. The two names under consideration for this position are Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson.

The Indian T20I series against New Zealand brought this discussion into public notice. Samson received multiple opportunities yet he could not achieve any significant results. Ishan entered the match at No.3 position and scored two match-winning innings. India requires an alternative because Tilak Varma will miss the entire series. The opening position battle needs to be settled first before officials can proceed with other matters.

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The BCCI squad announcement of India for T20 World Cup and New Zealand series teams showed Sanju Samson as opener following Shubman Gill's absence from the roster. But Samson has not helped his case.

He scored 10 runs in T20Is against New Zealand followed by 6 runs and then 0 runs. The Indian team considers him to be in poor form which they expected from him before a major cricketing season.

Samson has played 47 T20I innings, scoring 1,048 runs at an average of 24.37. He maintains a T20 strike rate of 147.6 yet his performance has not shown reliable results. India desires aggressive batting strategies which produce quick runs while maintaining their desire for scoring to happen simultaneously. That has been the reason for Samson's difficulties in performance.

Samson has three fifties and three hundreds in T20Is, which shows he can score big. His current T20 cricket performance shows signs of problems. He has scored 756 runs during the past twelve months from 29 innings yet he averages below 30 while maintaining a strike rate of 135. He has also looked shaky against the moving ball, and that could be a weakness in conditions that help swing early on.

Ishan Kishan did not open in the New Zealand series but he excelled at his No.3 position. Ishan attacked the bowlers after early wickets fell in both matches which led India to victory. This is the approach India want in T20 cricket.

In 35 T20I innings, Ishan has scored 908 runs at an average of 26.7, with seven fifties. Samson currently leads in strike rate over Ishan however their present performances show Ishan has better performance metrics.

Ishan has maintained his top performance since January 2025. He helped Jharkhand win their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and has continued his form into international cricket. His T20 strike rate has increased from 139.22 to 180.69 while maintaining an average of 44.68 his previous career average stood at 30.25. He scores runs at a higher speed than before.

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A World Cup requires teams to base their selections on current player performances because exceptional players will need to compete in every match. India needs players who currently show their best form to begin attacking from their first ball. Ishan Kishan currently serves as the most suitable player for this role.

Ishan's selection provides India with multiple advantages. Ishan's opening position allows Samson to either join the middle order or India can opt to bring in another batter or all-rounder. This selection helps the team achieve better performance results through enhanced team balance and depth.

People raise the question regarding how many left-handed players India needs to field during their top-order batting positions. India expects to field five left-handed players who will take spots within their top seven batting positions when Tilak Varma returns to active play. Teams may target them with off-spinners, but most of India’s left-handers play spin well. So that is not a big problem.

The choice between Ishan and Samson is not about skill. Both are talented. Ishan Kishan currently stands out as the top candidate according to his present performance level and his self-assurance plus his influence on matches. If Samson fails to score in the remaining T20Is against New Zealand, the door may open wider for Ishan to take the opening slot for the World Cup.