Sanju Samson did not don the wicketkeeping gloves for India in the fifth T20I at Thiruvananthapuram despite being listed as the designated keeper on the team sheet. Instead, the role was taken up by Ishan Kishan, fresh off his maiden T20I century earlier in the match, reports Live Cricket Score.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified after the game that the move was pre-planned and not a last-minute call, although it did raise questions given Samson’s designation on the team sheet released at the toss.
“Both the keepers were part of the XI from game one since Tilak [Varma] was unavailable,” Suryakumar explained. “We had decided before the series that Sanju would keep wickets for three games and Ishan for two. Ishan missed the last match because of a niggle, but he was always scheduled to keep today.”
The shared wicketkeeping duties underline the increasingly precarious position Samson finds himself in. His returns as an opener in 2025 have been underwhelming, a phase further complicated by his demotion to the middle order during the Asia Cup and the eventual loss of his spot to Jitesh Sharma on the Australia tour.
Having been preferred over Shubman Gill for the T20 World Cup, Samson has since returned to the top of the order but has struggled for consistency. This year, he has managed just 134 runs in 11 innings as an opener, with a highest score of 37.
In contrast, Kishan has steadily strengthened his case. He ended the series with 215 runs from four innings, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer behind Suryakumar and registering his maiden T20I hundred along the way.
Once Tilak Varma returns to the squad and slots back in at No.3, India are likely to face a direct selection call between Samson and Kishan.
Suryakumar indicated that Tilak is progressing well and should soon rejoin the World Cup squad, in line with the BCCI’s earlier timeline once he regains full match fitness.
“Tilak is much better now, shaping well,” Suryakumar said. “I’ve heard he’s playing two games in Mumbai on the 2nd and the 4th. That should be enough. I spoke to him yesterday—he’s started batting, bowling, fielding, everything. Hopefully, we’ll have him soon.”
Tilak is set to feature first in an India A match against the USA at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on February 2, before India’s World Cup warm-up game against South Africa on February 4.
There was encouraging news as well on Washington Sundar, another World Cup squad member racing to recover in time. “Washy has almost started bowling and batting,” Suryakumar said. “He’s also looking good.”
India begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
