T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson vs Ishan Kishan Who will be the number 1 wicketkeeper of Team India? One decision of Gautam Gambhir changed the whole game

News India Live, Digital Desk: Team India is in the final stages of its preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup (held in India and Sri Lanka). But the biggest headache facing the team is the selection of wicketkeeper. After the recently concluded T20 series against New Zealand, the equations have completely changed. While Sanju Samson is continuously flopping, Ishan Kishan has strengthened his claim by making a comeback.1. Ishan Kishan’s ‘explosive’ comebackIshan Kishan has performed brilliantly in domestic cricket (SMAT) and the series against New Zealand. Statement Hundred: Ishan played a stormy innings of 103 runs in just 43 balls in the last match of the series against the Kiwis. Hint with gloves: In the match played in Thiruvananthapuram, Sanju Samson was officially the wicketkeeper, but during fielding, Gautam Gambhir dismissed Ishan. Handed gloves to Kishan. This is being seen as a big sign that Kishan has now become the first choice of the team.2. Sanju Samson’s declining form: A matter of concern. The past few times have been very difficult for Sanju Samson. Constant failure: Sanju scored only 46 runs in 5 innings of the New Zealand series (average 9.2). Partnership with Abhishek Sharma: At one time the pairing of Abhishek and Sanju was considered fixed for the World Cup, but Sanju’s continuous low scores have forced the management to look towards Ishan. 3. Combination of Abhishek Sharma and wicketkeeper: The strategy of Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav is clear – they want fearless batting in the powerplay. Opening pair: At present, the pair of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan looks to be the most lethal. Both are left-handed batsmen, who are adept at spoiling the line-length of the opposition bowlers. Sanju’s role: If Abhishek Sharma remains fit, Sanju Samson may have to sit on the bench or he will be a part of the team only as a backup opener.4. Gautam Gambhir’s ‘Master Plan’ Coach Gautam Gambhir believes that ‘Impact’ matters more than statistics. Ishan Kishan being left handed and his agility in wicketkeeping gives him an edge over Sanju. However, it will be interesting to see what the balance of the playing-11 will be like after the return of Tilak Verma.