Sanju Samson Acknowledges Ishan Kishan's Domestic Form in T20 World Cup Squad Sanju Samson, a key player in India's T20 World Cup campaign, openly discussed the intense competition for the opening batting spot in the squad, particularly highlighting Ishan Kishan's resurgence in domestic cricket. Kishan, who had been sidelined from international cricket for nearly two years, earned a surprise recall to the national team ahead of the 2026 tournament. His inclusion came at the expense of Shubman Gill, the team's vice-captain in the T20 format, who was left out of the squad. Samson, who had been struggling with form during the tournament, admitted that Kishan's performances in domestic competitions had made him feel the pressure to secure his place in the team. Samson revealed that Kishan's standout performances in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he led Jharkhand to the championship, played a significant role in his selection. The southpaw's ability to score runs consistently in domestic matches, coupled with his recent hundred in Trivandrum, convinced Samson that Kishan had earned his spot. "Honestly, Ishan Kishan came into the squad out of nowhere. He had a great Mushtaq Ali Trophy, won the championship for Jharkhand, and has had a great story, boss," Samson said on the CSK podcast with Abhinav Mukund. Samson further admitted that Kishan's form had made him question his own position in the team. "We only look at ourselves, right? I think I have worked day in and day out, but lately I felt like Ishan had also done the same. After what happened to him for the last two years—he was out of the system—he worked so hard in domestic cricket and worked his way back. He started scoring runs, and I can admit it on camera that I could feel he was coming for my spot," Samson added.#t20_world_cup #ishan_kishan #sanju_samson #jharkhand #mushtaq_ali_trophy
