Will Sanju Samson play tonight for IND vs NAM in T20 World Cup 2026?
Ishan Kishan was preferred over Sanju Samson for India’s opening match against USA in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
India‘s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign continues with a Group A clash against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, February 12.
Fresh off a hard-fought 29-run victory over the USA in their tournament opener at Wankhede Stadium on February 7, the defending champions aim to build momentum before facing arch rivals Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, in what will be one of biggest clashes of T20 World Cup 2026.
Against USA, India posted 161/9 after a top-order collapse to 77/6. Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 84 off 49 balls rescued the innings with late fireworks. The bowlers then restricted the USA to 132/8, with Mohammed Siraj striking early and spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy controlling the middle overs.
Namibia on the other hand, after a seven-wicket loss to the Netherlands, will rely on Gerhard Erasmus and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton for batting stability, but face a tough challenge against India’s depth and home conditions.
India remain overwhelming favorites to secure a comfortable win and keep their title defence on track. However despite the win, concerns linger over batting fragility and injuries/illnesses.
Will Sanju Samson play India vs Namibia clash in T20 World Cup 2026?
Sanju Samson is highly likely to feature in IND vs NAM clash and open the batting. Abhishek Sharma, India’s explosive opener and a key performer in recent months, has been unwell with a stomach infection and was hospitalised in Delhi.
He missed training sessions, did not field fully against the USA after a first-ball duck, and remains doubtful for this match as per multiple reports and team updates. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate noted ongoing tummy issues, and while Abhishek was discharged recently, his participation looks unlikely for Namibia, with the focus shifting to his recovery for bigger games.
This opens the door for Samson, who was dropped from the opening slot after a poor run against New Zealand leading into the tournament. In that five-match T20I series, Samson managed only 46 runs with scores of 10, 6, 0, 24, 6, at an average of 9.2, leading to his benching in favour of Ishan Kishan.
With Abhishek sidelined, Samson steps in to partner Kishan at the top. He batted extensively in nets alongside Kishan in the build-up to the Namibia clash, another indicator of his potential return.
The Delhi pitch has offered turn so far, suiting India’s spinners, but Samson must capitalize on the powerplay to provide quick starts.
Why is Sanju Samson likely to play against Namibia?
Abhishek Sharma is recovering from a stomach infection and remains doubtful, opening the door for Samson to return as opener.
Where will the India vs Namibia match be played?
The Group A clash will take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.