Will Sanju Samson play tonight for IND vs SA in Super 8 clash of T20 World Cup 2026?
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The selection of Sanju Samson continues to be the most compelling subject following Abhishek Sharma’s recent showings.
One of the gripping topics since the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has been Sanju Samson’s place in India’s playing XI. Although India have made it to the Super 8 stage unbeaten, the opening order has looked anything but reassuring.
The focus has been entirely on Abhishek Sharma. Even though Sharma has been the world’s No. 1 T20I batter for a considerable period of the previous year, the start to the 2026 World Cup has been nothing short of disastrous for him, scoring three consecutive ducks against USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands.
As India are set to face a tough challenge in the opening match of the Super 8 stage against South Africa, the talk has now turned to the experienced Sanju Samson, who is pushing hard for a return to the XI.
Will Sanju Samson play for IND vs SA in Super 8 clash of T20 World Cup 2026?
Suryakumar Yadav has ruled out any changes in the batting order, which has more or less confirmed the future of Sanju Samson. The India captain has almost confirmed that the team management will continue to back Abhishek Sharma, as he told the media on the eve of the Super 8 match against South Africa.
“You are saying that I should play him (Samson) in place of Abhishek? Or in place of Tilak? Everything is going well. We are making 40-50 runs in powerplay. It’s normal cricket. It happens sometimes now that we have played exceptionally well in bilaterals. The wickets have been different here. It has been challenging,” Suryakumar said.
Samson’s only opportunity to play came against Namibia in the absence of Abhishek. The right-handed batsman scored a quick 22 off just 8 balls before getting dismissed. Abhishek, fit again, played against Pakistan, and Samson had to sit out.
Samson was India’s first choice wicketkeeper-batter prior to the ICC T20 World Cup. But Samson’s poor performance led to his exclusion, and Ishan Kishan replaced him.
By the looks of things, the think tank and the leadership of the Men in Blue are looking a bit reluctant to make any changes to the playing 11 ahead of the crucial stage in their title defence. This only means one thing for Sanju Samson- he will have to wait for his chance if any issues arise.
Will Sanju Samson play against South Africa?
Sanju Samson looks likely to remain out of the playing 11 against South Africa.
Has Suryakumar Yadav confirmed changes in India’s top order?
No, he has clearly indicated that the team will back the current batting combination.
Has Sanju Samson featured in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
Sanju Samson has featured only in one match against Namibia, scoring a quick 22 off 8 balls.
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Vishwajit Sawant is a sports content writer with two years of experience who believes in writing that feels honest, simple, and easy to read. He enjoys breaking down sporting moments into stories readers can genuinely connect with, without relying on fancy vocabulary. His work spans cricket, football, basketball, tennis, and Formula 1, with a focus on match previews, reviews, and reports. Vishwajit believes good content doesn’t need to be loud — it just needs to leave a subtle impact.