Kamal Ghorui
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has said that Ishan Kishan is performing well in the New Zealand T20I series, while Sanju Samson has struggled with his recent outings, raising questions over India’s wicketkeeper-batter choice.Kishan returned to the T20I side after last playing against Australia in late 2023. He earned his recall after a strong Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26 season, where he captained Jharkhand to their first title. India are currently playing both Kishan and Samson in the XI, but Samson’s form in the ongoing series has put his place under scrutiny.
“Sanju Samson got out off the first ball. He got out in the last two matches as well, and Ishan Kishan is playing wel,” Chopra said.“Ishan Kishan played a short but destructive knock this time too. He batted incredibly well, and by the time his wicket fell at 53, he had made his runs, and he is not stopping anytime soon. So who is ahead in this race?” he added.Samson has scored 16 runs in three matches in the series, with an average of five. Kishan has made 112 runs across the same three games. In the third T20I on Sunday, Samson was dismissed for a golden duck, while Kishan scored 28 off 13 balls.Chopra said Samson’s position looks uncertain, especially with Kishan delivering consistently and Tilak Varma set to return from injury.“You will have to ask a question. We dropped Gill because there was a new philosophy or ideology, and went towards Sanju Samson, but it seems like you won’t be able to stay with him for long. If you see their numbers lately, they seem identical,” Chopra observed.“Ishan Kishan wasn’t part of your original planning. However, if Tilak becomes available for the next game, it will be a call that India must take, whether they should go with Sanju or Ishan Kishan,” he said.
