Sanju Samson dumped as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman for T20 World Cup 2026 finalized

The star Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was ignored when the former opening batsman Aakash Chopra picked the first-choice gloveman for the India National Cricket Team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Instead of Sanju Samson, Aakash Chopra picked the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Jitesh Sharma as the frontrunner for the position of wicketkeeper-batsman in India's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 team.

Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma make it to India's Asia Cup squad

The 31-year-old Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Jitesh Sharma is among the two wicketkeeper-batsmen named in the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025, alongside Sanju Samson.

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He made it to the 15-man squad on the back of his heroics in RCB's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) triumph in 2025, where he was stellar with the bat and stunning behind the stumps.

In 15 matches, he scored 261 runs at an average of 37.28 and a strike rate of 176.35. He also took 19 catches and inflicted one stumping in IPL 2025.

He is likely to start in the India playing XI as a middle-order batter, as Shubman Gill, being the vice-captain, is likely to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma, replacing gloveman Sanju Samson.

Meanwhile, speaking on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Jitesh's numbers have been pretty good while batting from No.4 to No.7. He stated:

"We come to the man who is there (in the Asia Cup squad). I feel he will play in the XI. That is Jitesh Sharma. When he has played at Nos. 1 to 3, he has a strike rate of 135 and an average of 25. We shouldn't think too much about that because he won't get a chance there. However, his numbers at Nos. 4 to 7 have become a lot better."

He seems to be at No. 1 - Aakash Chopra gives Jitesh Sharma the wicketkeeper-batsman spot for T20 WC

Aakash Chopra highlighted Jitesh Sharma's great strike rate while batting in the middle and lower order and picked him as India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. He said:

"He has a strike rate of 166 and an average of 28. He is the first batter whose strike rate is above 150. So when the pecking order is prepared, he will go right at the top. Jitesh Sharma's numbers have looked the best amongst everyone else. Jitesh Sharma is shining bright. He seems to be at No. 1."

Aakash Chopra further talked about Dhruv Jurel and said that the young wicketkeeper-batsman is also in contention for the next year's T20 World Cup. He said:

"Dhruv Jurel is a part of the Indian setup at the moment. He is among the standbys currently. He has played only two matches at Nos. 1 to 3, so there is no point in talking about a strike rate of 71 there. However, at Nos. 4 to 7, where he bats regularly, he has a strike rate of 144 and an average of 25, which is not bad," he said.

He is also a work in progress - Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator, however, opined that Dhruv Jurel is a "work in progress" at the moment but added that he is supremely talented. He said:

"He is also a work in progress. I won't say that he is a finished product, but I have a lot of time for Dhruv Jurel because he is a good cricketer.

"He has the might. He has the talent to bat at that number, and that's the thought process behind the Indian team management keeping him, and that's why he is part of the standbys. He was part of the team last time, but is now part of the standbys."

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