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Former India captain and ex-chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth has shared his preferred playing XI for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with Sanju Samson failing to make the cut. The former opener opted for a combination that prioritised recent performances and clarity of roles, naming Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan ahead of Samson in the batting order. Srikkanth’s selection came in the aftermath of India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which he viewed as a decisive phase for fringe players.

Samson had returned to the top of the order during the series after a gap of three months, presenting an opportunity to strengthen his case ahead of the global event. However, his returns remained modest, with 46 runs across the series at an average of 9.20. In contrast, Kishan, who was promoted to bat in the top three due to Tilak’s injury absence, amassed 215 runs at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate exceeding 230, including a century in the fifth T20I.

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While some observers pointed to Samson’s unsettled batting position in recent months—particularly his displacement for Shubman Gill during the Asia Cup—Srikkanth remained unconvinced. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former opener said Samson had been given sufficient opportunities to establish himself. Srikkanth said,

“It started when Archer kept bouncing him out last year. Nobody will get so many opportunities like this. They’ve given him a very long rope. Yes, they played around with his position a bit during the Asia Cup."

He added,

“You have not scored at all and failed in 10 innings, opening the batting, and Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, is producing match-winning knocks where he puts the team in a different zone altogether. There is no comparison right now between the two."

Srikkanth’s comments underline a selection approach driven by immediate output rather than long-term projection, particularly in the shortest format.

Despite backing Kishan, Srikkanth acknowledged potential issues within the proposed XI. Kishan’s wicketkeeping came under scrutiny after the final T20I against New Zealand, where he appeared less assured than Samson. The batting order also raises balance questions, with three left-handers in the top four and as many as seven left-handed batters in the top nine.

Srikkanth also left out Kuldeep Yadav, preferring Varun Chakaravarthy as the sole specialist spinner, while Axar Patel was selected as a defensive all-round option. The team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav.

Kris Srikkanth’s preferred India XI:

Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.