Explained: Why Sanju Samson is not playing in India vs USA T20 World Cup 2026 match in Group A
One of the biggest talking points before the match has been Sanju Samson’s place in the playing XI. Sanju was picked in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup but is not playing in the first game. In his place, in-form batter Ishan Kishan has been included.
The stage is set for Game 3 of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Defending champions India will take on the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both teams will look to get a good start to their World Cup campaigns, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in this clash.
The World Cup 2026 has started poorly for India, as the team lost the toss at Wankhede, and the USA chose to bowl first.
One of the biggest talking points before the match has been Sanju Samson’s place in the playing XI. Sanju was picked in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup but is not playing in the first game. In his place, in-form batter Ishan Kishan has been included.
Also read -Why is Jasprit Bumrah not playing today's IND vs USA match in Group A ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026?
Samson Dropped, Kishan Gets Opportunity
One reason for dropping Sanju Samson could be the recent form of both players. Samson has lost form, while Ishan Kishan has been excellent in recent matches for India.
Kishan’s good form could help India in the opening match. With this chance, it will be interesting to see how he performs against the USA.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Take at the Toss
India lost the toss, but captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team was planning to bat first anyway. He also revealed the team composition for the clash against the USA.
“We were looking to bat first. It looks good here. I played a lot of cricket here. There’s some wind as well, so I don’t think there will be a lot of dew later. Of course, there will be a little pressure. We can’t run away from that, but it’s a new tournament. We want to play the same way we have in the last one or two years and continue the same,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the toss.
India Playing XI
Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
USA Playing XI
Andries Gous (wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel (c), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar
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Sports run in my veins and stories fuel my pen. With over 3 years in journalism — including stints at Sportskeeda, Cricreads, and Athlete Fortune — I’ve lived every word I’ve written. A Madrista at heart and a CR7 devotee, I fell in love with cricket because of one man — Virat Kohli. His passion for the game taught me to see cricket beyond the numbers. Currently writing for Cricket Winner, I cover match analyses, player stories, stats-based features, and cricket news updates. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me glued to tennis courts or boxing rings, living the sport from every angle.
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