3 reasons why Sanju Samson should be dropped after IND vs NZ T20I series

Sanju Samson gave a dismal performance in the IND vs NZ T20I series.

India’s star wicket-keeper batter, Sanju Samson, failed to make a mark in the recently concluded India vs New Zealand (IND vs NZ) T20I series.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, India dropped Shubman Gill and selected Sanju Samson along with Abhishek Sharma as openers. While Abhishek executed his job well, Samson completely struggled to support him.

Although Samson has been a regular wicket-keeper batter in T20Is over the last year, he has lost his form just at the start of 2026. Here we take a look at the three reasons why Sanju Samson should be dropped after the T20I series against New Zealand.

3. Poor show in T20I series against New Zealand

Samson received enough opportunities in the India vs New Zealand T20I series as he was picked in the playing XI in all five matches.

However, the right-handed batsman flopped with his performances, hitting just 46 runs across five games. Registering scores of 10, 6, 0, 24, and 6, he wasted all chances to make a mark in the campaign.

2. Risky opener in T20 World Cup squad

Notably, Samson is a first-choice wicket-keeper batter in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. As he was selected to open in India’s T20I series against New Zealand, he was expected to take the top spot in the ICC tournament as well.

However, with his ongoing woes with the form, he cannot be trusted as an opener for the 20-nation tournament.

India will need a strong set of openers to dominate the opposition teams and defend their title in the T20 World Cup. With his recent dismal batting performances, Samson does not fit as an opener in India’s T20I team at the moment.

1. Ishan Kishan’s continuous, incredible performances

Unarguably, Ishan Kishan has made an incredible comeback in the Indian Cricket Team. The left-handed batter rocked with his performance in domestic cricket to get a place in the T20I series against the Black Caps and the World Cup squad.

The wicket-keeper batter also rocked with his batting heroics against the Kiwis, smacking a half-century and a hundred in four matches. With 215 runs, he ended as the second-highest run-scorer in the series.

Moreover, he also won the Player of the Match in the second and fifth T20I, while also registering his first ton in the shortest format. With Kishan’s incredible form, he deserves preference over Samson as a wicket-keeper batter as well as an opener.

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