Picture Credit : BCCi
The suspense, it must be said, about who features in the playing XI- between Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan- is no longer a surprise. Therefore, all the guesswork and predictions prior to the start of India’s campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup, might just end here. So why is that after all? India’s decision to open the batting with Ishan Kishan against the USA signals a clear tactical intent, while the omission of Sanju Samson from the playing XI underlines the team management’s preference for specific roles and match-ups.
Kishan’s inclusion at the top brings left-handed aggression and tempo-setting ability, qualities that can disrupt bowling plans early, especially against attacks still finding their feet at the international level. His strength against pace and willingness to take the aerial route in the powerplay offer India a chance to assert dominance upfront.
Sanju Samson’s exclusion is not really about poor form, but more about team combination. With only a few spots available in the playing XI, the team management has chosen players who better fit the required roles for this match. While Sanju Samson is a classy batter and can finish games well, he often misses out when the team feels other players offer more balance. In this case, India seemed to value early aggression and additional bowling options over Samson’s middle-order batting skills.
Having said that, India were fortunate to find an up and roaring Ishan Kishan whose batting had the intent and the big spark as seen in the recent series against the BlackCaps. His towering century only further strengthening the case for inclusion.
That being said, it wasn’t quite the case with Samson.
For India cricket team, the move on including Ishan over Sanju reflects a broader strategy: back players who can impose themselves early and keep the opposition under pressure throughout the innings. Against the United States national cricket team, India’s approach suggests respect for the opponent but no compromise on intent. Kishan opening embodies that mindset—positive, proactive, and geared towards setting the tone from ball one.
