Does Sanju Samson have talent? Yes. Does he merit a place in the side? Yes. Was it a tad unfair on him when India brought Shubman Gill back at the top while Samson was doing well as an opener? Yes. But now that he isn’t performing, is it fair to include Ishan Kishan, who is in stellar form, in the T20 World Cup side? Also yes.
Will that be unfair on Samson? The jury is out.
The Samson case is a very difficult one to deal with. You want him to get a few more opportunities and re-establish himself as India’s go-to opener. And yet, there simply isn’t the luxury of time, with the World Cup round the corner and Ishan breathing down his neck. Samson hasn’t scored heavily, and the pressure must be mounting. Ishan, on the other hand, has seized his chances, adding further complexity to the situation. Samson’s inconsistency — in many ways the story of his career — could come back to haunt him as T20 World Cup preparations hit the home stretch.
The truth is that India has an abundance of riches in the format. Imagine Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi sitting out. Any other team would love to have these two and would likely pair them at the top of the order. Add Gill as another option, and the depth becomes staggering. India, meanwhile, also have Abhishek Sharma and Ishan, not to mention Samson — and only two can play once Tilak Varma returns at the end of this series. Should Samson, who was perhaps unfairly left out when Gill was recalled, be persisted with? And would that be fair to Ishan, who has been brilliant in the ongoing series?
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The second question is tactical. If Ishan is picked ahead of Samson, where do Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak bat? Abhishek and Ishan are both left-handers, and if Tilak slots in at three, there is a certain monotony to the batting order. If Suryakumar bats at three, the left-right combination remains intact, preventing opponents from settling into a rhythm. With Surya rediscovering form and looking increasingly fluent, it would also allow the captain to better control and shape the innings.
Unlike most selection dilemmas, the Samson issue is genuinely nuanced. There is no clear right or wrong. If the management decides to persist with him and give him a few more games — especially with India opening against weaker opposition — it would be a defensible call. Equally, opting for Ishan in place of Samson would be just as valid, given the form he is currently in.
Either way, one thing is certain: this team is peaking at the right time. Unless the familiar knockout curse strikes or India encounters an unusually difficult batting surface, this side is showing genuine signs of invincibility. Samson or not, India will head into the World Cup as favourites for the title.
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