I don't see Sanju Samson being part of the XI on February 7: Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has stated that Ishan Kishan deserves to be a part of the Indian playing XI, replacing keeper-batter Sanju Samson in the game against the United States of America in the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday, February 7.

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Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, Gavaskar believed that Samson has received ample opportunities to prove his form in the New Zealand series. However, the opening batter managed to score only 46 runs in five games.

"I think the selection committee was quite forthright, giving Sanju Samson all the opportunities. But now, with Ishan Kishan's innings here and Tilak Varma likely to return, the batting order looks definite," Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports. 

While praising Samson’s past performances, Gavaskar added that with Tilak Varma coming back into the XI and Ishan Kishan being in exceptional form, he doesn’t see Samson being part of the XI in the team’s opening fixture against the USA.

"It is really difficult to drop him. And dropping him for whom? Tilak Varma is a proven performer at this level. Sanju Samson is also a proven performer, but he is not in form. It has got nothing to do with his ability,” he added. 

“In a tournament like the World Cup, you can't take chances. This is the reason I think that after giving him five matches - I think his highest score is 24 - and he has got out in odd manners, he is definitely short on confidence. Unless Tilak Varma is not fit, I don't see him (Samson) being part of the XI on February 7 (vs USA in the T20 World Cup)," Gavaskar concluded.

Notably, Kishan ended the T20I series with 215 runs from four innings at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate of 231.18, emerging as the second-leading run-scorer of the five-match series.

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