After winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian national cricket team is currently going through a phase of change. The Indian team management is now trying to build a strong team for the future. Currently, the biggest question is who should open the batting with Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the T20I format, Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson.
Both Samson and Abhishek are talented players and they bring different strengths to the team. While Abhishek is known for attacking from the very first ball, Sanju is a player who can build innings and also accelerate when needed. This makes the job of selectors more challenging. Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari questioned the different rules for Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
Recent T20I form – who has made more impact with the bat?
Sanju Samson was one of the biggest heroes in India’s 2026 ICC T20 World Cup win on home soil earlier this year. Even though he was not a part of India’s first-choice squad before the tournament, the Kerala star grabbed his opportunity with both hands. He played some of the best innings of his career when India needed him the most and helped the team win its third title.
The Kerala batsman played a match-winning unbeaten inning of 97 runs against West Indies in the Super Eight stage. He then scored 89 against England in the semi-final and followed it up with another brilliant 89 in the final against New Zealand.
Samson finished the tournament with 321 runs, becoming the highest-scoring Indian batsman in a T20 World Cup edition, and won the Player of the Tournament award for his outstanding performance. After such a memorable tournament, many expected Samson to become a regular member of India’s T20I team, but surprisingly things went against him.
During the tour of Ireland and England, the right-handed batsman failed in three innings and found himself out of the playing eleven. He scored 0 and 5 in Ireland, and then he was out for 1, forcing the team management to hand debutant Vaibhav Suryavanshi to bring him back for the final T20I against England, and he managed only 27 before being rested for the Zimbabwe tour.
Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, has been getting consistent chances despite his inconsistent performances. But his fearless batting style helped him retain his place in the team. There is no doubt that Abhishek has played some excellent innings for India. But he has been struggling since 2025, when he was out for three consecutive ducks.
In his last 16 T20I innings, Abhishek has managed only 187 runs at a disappointing average of 11.68, which included 6 zeroes. The Punjab player scored only fifty runs during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign. His struggles continued in the recent UK tour and Zimbabwe tour as well.
He scored 49 and 0 in Ireland and then scored 59, 43, 10, 16 and 3 against England in the recent series. Abhishek once again failed to make an impact on the Zimbabwe tour and could only score 1, 8 and 2. Repeated failures have increased the pressure on him.
Why is there no direct comparison of Sanju Samson vs Abhishek Sharma?
The main difference between Samson and Abhishek is not just their batting numbers. It is also about his role in the India national cricket team. Abhishek is an aggressive opener. He likes to attack the bowlers from the start and put pressure on the bowlers during the powerplay.
His left-handed batting also gives India a different option at the top. Another advantage is that he can bowl left arm spin whenever the captain needs an additional bowling option. Amidst all this, Lalit Modi has come forward in support of his ‘friend’ Gautam Gambhir.
However, Sanju Samson offers a lot of flexibility. He can open the innings, bat at number 3 or even bat in the middle order. He has the ability to play both aggressive and controlled cricket as per the situation. And then, the Kerala star is also an experienced wicketkeeper, giving the team another useful option behind the stumps. In such a situation, it would be wrong to compare these two Indian stars.
Selection dilemma: Should India prioritize form or role?
Samson’s experience and performance under pressure, in contrast to Abhishek’s ability to destroy any bowling attack in just a few overs, are something the selectors cannot ignore. However, international cricket is about consistent performances, and this is where Abhishek is lagging behind.
The Indian selectors have to take a tough decision between Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek brings fearless batting at the top and can change the game with his aggressive shots in the powerplay. His left-handed batting also adds variety to the batting order and his left-arm spin provides additional bowling options to the captain.
Even though he is struggling for consistency, the Indian team management believes that he has the talent to be a match-winner. Samson, on the other hand, offers experience, flexibility and consistency. He can bat at different positions, save wickets and play long innings when the team needs stability. His excellent performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup proved that he can perform well even under pressure.
Samson has a stronger claim than Abhishek for a place in India’s playing eleven. Considering recent form and big-match performances, India’s next T20 series is scheduled against West Indies in October 2026. Therefore, it will be interesting to see whether Samson or Abhishek gets the selectors’ approval or not.
Who deserves this place right now?
Considering the current situation, India should bring Sanju Samson back in the T20 team. His experience will also help young opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and their partnership could give India the right balance in the T20I format as Abhishek’s slogging has also troubled many.
Vaibhav can continue to play his natural aggressive game, while Samson can guide the youngster and control the innings if needed. It also gives India a right-handed and left-handed opening combination, making life more difficult for the opposition bowlers.
Abhishek’s future is undoubtedly bright, but at this point, Samson’s recent achievements, experience and ability to perform well under pressure make his case for a T20I squad difficult to ignore. As India’s T20I team enters a new era, the team management will have to strike the right balance between youth and experience to bounce back strong after the disappointment of the UK tour.