Will Sanju Samson play tonight for IND vs PAK in T20 World Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Sanju Samson played ahead of Abhishek Sharma against Namibia after the latter was ruled out of the clash due to illness.
India played their second T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash against Namibia on February 12, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Sanju Samson made his T20 World Cup debut in unexpected circumstances. Stepping in as an opener, Samson replaced Abhishek Sharma, who was sidelined due to sickness.
After starting cautiously with three dots, the Keralite quickly shifted gears. He smashed a six down the ground in the first over, followed by back-to-back sixes and a four over extra cover in the second over against Ben Shikongo.
All 22 runs came via boundaries, including three sixes and one four, at a blistering strike rate of 275 before he was dismissed flicking a delivery to deep mid-wicket.
Will Sanju Samson play tonight for IND vs PAK in T20 World Cup 2026?
Despite a decent cameo, his partner Ishan Kishan outplayed him. The Jharkhand wicket-keeper smashed 61 off just 24 balls, playing a key role in helping India cross the 200-mark.
As India gear up for the Pakistan challenge on February 15 in Colombo, the big question is whether Samson will retain his spot. Reports signal Abhishek Sharma has fully recovered from illness, and that he has been discharged from the hospital and is back in training.
The explosive left-hander shared a positive health update, confirming he’s lost weight but is adhering to a recovery diet and feels ready. Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed Abhishek’s fitness, stating he’ll feature in the clash.
With Abhishek set to return to the top of the order alongside Ishan Kishan, Samson will be dropped from the playing XI. This decision is an easy one to make for the team management, as Sharma has been India’s best batter in the previous 24 months in the 20-over format.
Abhishek’s return bolsters India’s batting lineup, as they look to register their eighth T20 World Cup win over arch-rivals Pakistan.
Why did Sanju Samson play against Namibia?
He replaced Abhishek Sharma, who was sidelined due to illness.
Will Sanju Samson play against Pakistan?
NO, as Abhishek Sharma has recovered and is slated to return to the XI.
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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.