As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 begins on 7 February, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the debate around India’s opening combination seems close to an end. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has strongly hinted that Ishan Kishan is set to open the innings in the tournament opener against the United States.
Kishan made a powerful statement in the warm-up match against South Africa, where he opened the batting and smashed a fiery 53 off just 20 balls. His aggressive knock at the top of the order stood out, especially with regular opener Sanju Samson not being given a chance in the practice game, further strengthening Kishan’s claim.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Suryakumar praised Kishan’s consistency across formats. He highlighted Kishan’s attacking approach in domestic cricket, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and said the left-hander is unlikely to bat below No.3 during the tournament.
Recent numbers also favor Kishan. He has scored 215 runs in four innings at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate of over 230, including a match-winning 76 and a blistering century. In contrast, Samson has struggled since 2025, managing just 134 runs in 11 T20I innings as an opener.
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Based on form and the captain’s backing, Ishan Kishan now appears the frontrunner to open for India in the T20 World Cup 2026.
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