Aakash Chopra on Sanju Samson: Should Team India get Sanju Samson to open in T20 World Cup 2026 or not? This question has currently surrounded the Team India management from all sides. Samson’s poor form continued in the fifth T20 match against New Zealand, where he was out after scoring only 6 runs. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra has trolled Samson.

Akash Chopra trolled

While commentating during the India vs New Zealand fifth T20 match played in Thiruvananthapuram, Aakash Chopra compared Sanju Samson to Ishan Kishan. While talking to him, he said that the selection of Ishan Kishan in the playing eleven can be more beneficial for Team India.

Aakash Chopra said, “Will you wait for good days or feed someone who is having good days? Ishaan Kishan is having good days.”

Sanju Samson’s bad figures

In the year 2025, from January till now, Sanju Samson has been out 10 times in T20 cricket even before the end of the powerplay. In the last one year, Samson could not stay at the crease till the end of the powerplay 10 times out of 14. At the same time, within the last one year, not a single fifty has come from his bat.

Samson has opened in all five matches of the T20 series against New Zealand. His highest score in these 5 matches was 24 runs, which he made in Vizag. In the five innings played in the series, he could score only 46 runs and the average was only 9.2. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan’s bat is roaring very well. He could not play the fourth T20, but scored 112 runs in the first three matches. In this entire series, he batted with a stormy strike rate of 224 in the first 3 innings.

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The Indian team for the 2026 T20 World Cup has been announced. Shubman Gill has been out of the T20 team due to poor form. This is the same Shubman Gill, whom people trolled by saying that he has taken Sanju Samson’s place in the T20 team. Samson’s 3 centuries as an opener were praised all over the world, but the real figures say something else.

This is the year 2024, when in the months of October-November, Sanju Samson, while opening, had scored three centuries within 5 innings. Samson batted opening till the conclusion of the series against England in February 2025. Shubman Gill returned to the T20 team in the next series, after which Samson’s batting order kept changing and later he stopped getting a place in the playing eleven. Gill was not able to perform well in T20 matches. He was taken to task and because of those three century innings, Sanju Samson got the sympathy of the fans.

the reality is something else

Now Sanju Samson has been selected in the Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2026. He has flopped in the first three T20 matches of the series against New Zealand. In three innings, Samson has scored only 16 runs facing 13 balls. In the third match played in Guwahati, he was out on his very first ball.

In the last one year, Samson’s average has been 11 in the same opening batting order for which he was praised. From January 2025 till now, Samson has scored only 109 runs in 9 innings as an opener. During this period, not a single half-century has come from his bat and the average has been 11.55. While opening, Samson has been able to stay at the crease till after the powerplay only once in the last 9 innings. These figures of Samson are a matter of concern for Team India before the T20 World Cup.

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After the announcement of the Indian team for the Asia Cup 2025, now the biggest discussion is about the team combination. Especially Middle Order In wicket keeper The debate on the batsman’s place is fast, because in the team Shubman After gill’s return Sanju Samson Of Opening It is considered difficult to do. Now the team Management in front of Samson And Jitesh Sharma, both options exist. In such a situation, let’s see which of the two figures are better.

Sanju Samson Of tea20 Record

Samson Has played 38 T20 international innings so far, scoring 861 runs. their Strike Rate Has been 152.39, but Middle Order His performance has proved weak in. His average at number five is only 20.67. Samson Has scored just 62 runs in five innings. Playing an innings at number six Samson Done Just Have scored 12 runs. This is why they Finisher Not being considered reliable.

Jitesh Of T20 Record

Jitesh Although only seven international innings have played, but their Strike Rate It has been 147.06. Especially at number six, his performance has been impressive, where he scored 64 runs and 152.38 Strike Rate Get runs from IPL I also spent many times for the team Finisher Has played the role of At number six Jitesh Has scored 64 runs. Where their Strike Rate It has been 168.75, which is much better.

IPL In Middle Order In both players Record

Samson Of IPL Also at number-5 and 6 Record Nothing is special. At number-5 Samson 136 in 3 innings Strike Rate Has scored 34 runs from At number-6 there They 102.56 of 6 innings Strike Rate He has been able to score only 80 runs.

Talk there Jitesh So, both of them Position brilliant at Record Used to be. Jitesh About 169 in 18 innings at number-5 Strike Rate Has scored 374 runs from. At the same time on number-6, he has about 179 in 16 innings Strike Rate Have scored 405 runs from

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