Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson in the T20 World Cup? Captain Surya answers all the questions
Ishan Kishan's wicket-keeping in the fifth T20 match between India and New Zealand raised questions, but captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified that the decision was pre-planned. Ishan Kishan made the match one-sided by scoring his first T20 International century. India won the series 4-1, sending a strong message ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
During the fifth T20 match against New Zealand played in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, everyone was surprised in the second innings when Ishan Kishan came onto the field wearing wicket-keeping gloves. Sanju Samson, who usually performs this role, was not behind the wicket at that time.
Ishan Kishan's wicket-keeping in the fifth T20 match
In the four matches played earlier, Sanju Samson was India's designated wicket-keeper. However, since he hadn't scored many runs with the bat in the series, it was natural to wonder whether this change was just part of a rotation or if there was another reason behind it. However, India's captain Suryakumar Yadav put an end to all the speculation regarding this decision in the post-match press conference. India won the match by 46 runs, clinching the series 4-1 and strengthening their preparations ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Captain Surya explains the reason
Suryakumar clarified that the decision regarding wicket-keeping had been made even before the series began. He said, "Since Tilak Varma was unavailable, both wicket-keepers were part of the playing XI from the first match. It was decided before the series started that Sanju would keep wickets in three matches and Ishan in two."
Memorable night for Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan was unable to play in the fourth T20 in Visakhapatnam due to a minor injury (niggle), which raised some concerns about his availability. But his strong comeback in Thiruvananthapuram dispelled all those fears. Ishan Kishan continued his brilliant form, scoring his first T20 International century and helping India reach a massive score. India posted a massive score of 272 runs. Suryakumar Yadav scored a half-century, while Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya also made important contributions.
In reply, New Zealand got off to a good start. Finn Allen played a quickfire innings of 80 runs off 38 balls, but he did not receive much support from the middle order, and the entire team once again suffered a one-sided defeat.
Ishan Kishan becomes the game-changer
Suryakumar Yadav said that the team's message to Ishan has always been the same: play fearlessly and don't compromise on your natural style. He said, "We know what Ishan is capable of. We saw his performance in domestic cricket before the series. We told him that whether he opens the innings or bats at number three, he shouldn't change his identity."
Summary
Even though Sanju Samson struggled with the bat in this series, the Indian team is consistently performing brilliantly and has proven itself to be a strong contender for the title ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. The challenge now will be to make the right decisions at the right time to repeat history and successfully defend the title.
