Will Shubman Gill Replace Sanju Samson in India's T20 World Cup Squad?

Team India was one of the first teams to announce their squads for the T20 World Cup 2026. The showpiece event will be played in India and Sri Lanka, and will begin on February 7 with the final set to be played on March 8.

India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 is the same that is featuring in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, except Tilak Varma and Axar Patel, both of whom are injured. But the form of a few players has become a cause of concern for the team management, who are trying different combinations.

One of them is Sanju Samson, who is also one of the best wicketkeepers in India. The right-hander was asked to open once Shubman Gill was dropped from the side. However, the move to bring him back at the top - a position he bossed in 2024, has not worked at all so far.

Sanju Samson's Poor Form in IND vs NZ Series

Top order batter Sanju Samson, who scored three centuries as an opener in 2024, has failed to make a mark in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. With him getting the opening spot back, it was expected that he would set the stage on fire.

But, that hasn’t been the case as Sanju Samson has looked out of sorts in the whole IND vs NZ series so far. In the opening encounter, he managed just 10 runs off 7 balls. His poor form continued in the next game as he scored just six runs.

Things turned from bad to worse for the talented right-hander in the third game as he got out for a golden duck with his stumps flying everywhere. His three consistent failures have now put him under immense pressure. But it remains to be seen whether Sanju Samson T20 World Cup 2026 spot is in danger or not.

Will Shubman Gill Replace Sanju Samson in India's T20 World Cup Squad?

With Samson failing to score now, a common question among fans has been whether Shubman Gill, one of the best batsmen in the world, can replace Sanju Samson in India's T20 World Cup squad. Interestingly, Gill was the vice-captain of the team and was dropped when the squad for the World Cup was announced.

Although his numbers were not good in T20Is, but he showed great form in the ODI series against New Zealand, hitting two fifties. The final date to change the squad is January 31 and there might be an outside chance of Shubman Gill T20 World Cup 2026 inclusion at the last moment.

However, the selectors are unlikely to make a decision after just three games. But if there are any injury concerns, we may see Shubman Gill back in the Indian T20I side for the T20 World Cup 2026. Having him on the sidelines shows India's strong bench strength.