Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has revealed his ideal playing XI for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, notably excluding Sanju Samson. Srikkanth chose a mix based on recent performances, placing Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan ahead of Samson in the lineup. This selection follows India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which Srikkanth viewed as crucial for players on the fringe.
Samson returned to the top of the order during the series after a three-month break, aiming to bolster his chances for the world event. Unfortunately, he scored just 46 runs across the series, with an average of 9.20. In contrast, Kishan, who stepped up into the top three while Varma was injured, scored 215 runs at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate over 230, including a century in the fifth T20I.
Srikkanth addresses recent performances
Some analysts noted Samson’s inconsistent batting position, especially after he was replaced by Shubman Gill during the Asia Cup. However, Srikkanth did not find this a convincing argument. On his YouTube channel, he remarked that Samson had ample chances to prove himself. Srikkanth stated,
“It all began when Archer kept bouncing him out last year. Nobody gets as many opportunities. He has been given a long rope, even with position changes during the Asia Cup.”
He continued,
“You have not scored at all after 10 innings as an opener, while Ishan Kishan is consistently delivering match-winning performances. There’s no comparison at this moment.”
These comments suggest a selection strategy focused on immediate results in the T20 format.
Concerns about team balance
While supporting Kishan, Srikkanth pointed out potential issues in the proposed lineup. Kishan’s wicketkeeping came under fire after the last T20I against New Zealand, where he appeared less confident than Samson. The batting order also raised questions about balance, with three left-handers in the top four and seven left-handed batters in the top nine.
Srikkanth also decided to exclude Kuldeep Yadav, supporting Varun Chakaravarthy as the only specialist spinner, while Axar Patel was identified as a defensive all-rounder. Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead the team.
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.
