Aakash Chopra opens up on Sanju Samson’s potential chances as keeper for 2026 T20 World Cup

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra reckons Sanju Samson should be the first contender for the wicket-keeper position for the next T20 World Cup as he has been part of the team after the 2024 T20 World Cup. Samson has done a decent job while opening the innings with Abhishek Sharma.

The Kerala batter has scored three T20I centuries in the last 12 matches but he could only manage 51 runs in five games against England in 2025 as he was troubled by short-pitched deliveries. Furthermore, Shubman Gill has been appointed as India’s vice-captain in T20Is, which has raised doubts on Samson’s selection in the playing XI.

While Samson has an impressive record in T20 cricket when he bats in the top-order, the Kerala batter’s numbers significantly dwindle when he bats from number four to seven.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “Sanju Samson is the first contender because he played the last series. He has struck three centuries in the last 12 matches. He is also a part of the team at the moment. So, of course, he will be the first guy to talk about. If we see his numbers at Nos. 1 to 3 in all T20s, he has scored more than 6000 runs at a strike rate of 140 and an average of 33. These are really good numbers at Nos. 1 to 3.”

“So Sanju Samson is a real contender if you want a keeper in the top three. When I look at his numbers at Nos. 4 to 7, he has played 98 matches and has an average of 20 and a strike rate of 126. Neither the strike rate nor the average looks very good at Nos. 4 to 7. You would have kept Sanju as a frontrunner at the top. However, suddenly, when you change his number, he will go down in the list,” Chopra added.

On the other hand, the renowned commentator reckons KL Rahul can also be considered for the 2026 T20 World Cup but the flamboyant batter must improve his strike rate when he bats down the order. Rahul amassed 539 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2025 at a strike rate of 149.72.

“It’s being said that he (Rahul) is an all-format player, is scoring runs everywhere, has found this second wind, and whatnot. If we look at Nos. 1 to 3, he has an average of nearly 43 and a strike rate of 137 in 196 innings. The strike rate can be slightly better, there is doubt about that, but an average of 42, that is phenomenal,” he said.

“His numbers in the top three are very good, but we are not supposed to look very deep and spend too much time on numbers in the top three. When I look at Nos. 4 to 7, he still has an average of 40, but he has a strike rate of 133. I don’t think a strike rate of 133 at Nos. 4 to 7 is going to cut it. No one looks close to KL Rahul in terms of average, but a strike rate of 133,” Chopra observed.

Rahul has all the experience under his belt, and he would be eyeing a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.