IND vs SA: Sanju Samson to replace Tilak Varma for Super 8 clash? India drop a massive hint

Sanju Samson played one match for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

India have been on a roll throughout the group stages of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. They grabbed four straight wins to finish on top of Group A. The Men in Blue outclassed Pakistan by 61 runs in the all-important match. They also beat the United States, Namibia, and the Netherlands. Now, they head into the Super 8s with a lot of confidence.

The bowlers have been spot on under the lights. However, the batters have been a bit hit-or-miss at times. The team needs to sort this out quickly. Suryakumar Yadav is leading a group that looks physically strong and mentally tough. Even so, they are still looking for the right opening combination as the competition gets harder.

One of the unluckiest players to miss out has been Sanju Samson, who was almost certain to open the innings for India in T20 World Cup 2026. However, the selectors went with Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma as the main openers. They liked having left-handers at the top and valued their fast scoring. The management wanted a specific setup that used players who could also bowl a bit of spin.

Sanju Samson bats for a long time in nets ahead of IND vs SA Super 8 clash amid rumours of replacing Tilak Varma in XI

India have arrived in Ahmedabad for a huge Super 8 game against South Africa. A report from journalist Rohit Juglan at RevSportz got people talking on social media. Juglan posted on X that Sanju Samson has been working incredibly hard in the nets ahead of IND vs SA with his body language looking strong.

This extra work suggests the team might finally put him in the starting eleven. He could add some much-needed spark to the XI that looked a bit stuck against the Netherlands. The big question now is who makes way for him. It’s a tough call since the team like the safety net their current players provide.

There is a strong argument for Samson to take over for either Abhishek Sharma or Tilak Varma. Both young players have found it hard to stay consistent on the big stage. Abhishek Sharma is in a rough patch with three ducks recently. Meanwhile, Varma has struggled to keep the scoreboard moving during the middle overs.

Samson brings years of experience in tough spots. He is great at finding gaps against both fast bowlers and spinners. The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium usually has some decent bounce. If that holds true, the veteran might be exactly what India need to handle a dangerous South African attack.

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