Aakash Chopra Questions Sanju Samson’s Place in India XI Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Former opener Aakash Chopra questioned Sanju Samson’s place in India’s XI after two low scores in the T20I series against New Zealand.

Former opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Sanju Samson’s place in India’s playing XI during the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. The series stands at 2–0 in India’s favour and ends in Thiruvananthapuram, Samson’s home city.

Concerns have emerged after Samson recorded low scores in both matches. In Raipur, he was out in the first over, caught at mid-on during the chase. Chopra feels the dismissal has increased pressure on Samson’s selection chances.

“Sanju’s problem is that when he gets out, a pattern starts getting created. Against England, he was getting caught in the deep while playing pull shots, and here he got out driving two full balls, once at midwicket and once at mid-on. Rachin Ravindra took the catch both times. It is not a good story. Sanju Samson’s fans will be hoping that he will be playing in the last match in Thiruvananthapuram, Sanju’s home. I don’t know,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra also assessed Abhishek Sharma’s early wicket as helpful for India. He noted that it exposed unresolved batting questions.

“I was thinking that Abhishek should get out because 200 runs had been scored, and if Abhishek hadn’t gotten out, he would have made it a one-sided match again, and our problem would never have been addressed. If Abhishek had stayed, it would have been a no-contest, and he got out on his first ball. Sanju got out almost similarly,” he added.

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Meanwhile, India moved 2–0 ahead in the T20I series. In the second match, the hosts reached 209 in 15.2 overs, completing a 7-wicket win. Ishan Kishan led the charge, and Suryakumar Yadav followed with an unbeaten 82 off 37 deliveries. Kishan earned the Player of the Match award for his impact at the top.

The third T20I will be played in Guwahati, where India will aim to secure the series.