Will Sanju Samson feature in IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026 clash? India's batting coach reveals

The Indian side has been under pressure post their 76-run defeat against South Africa in their opening clash of the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Their batting didn’t click at all as they got bundled out for just 111 runs in 18.5 overs in the chase of 188 runs against the Proteas, with their top order failing massively.

The calls and the practice sessions, two days before the game, indicated that Sanju Samson could make his way back into the eleven. The wicket-keeper batter has overall smashed 1100 runs in 50 innings of the shortest format at an average of 23.91 and a strike rate of 148.84, with the help of three fifties and two centuries. Their batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, in the press conference, has hinted at the same.

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“There have been discussions around that, and we are thinking. We will see because we never decide the team early. But there will be thoughts. Rinku Singh is joining the team this evening. He went back home because his father is not well.” Kotak expressed in the pre-match press conference.

Sitanshu Kotak hints at Sanju Samson’s inclusion in IND vs ZIM T20 WC 2026 clash

Samson was part of only the Namibia clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during the campaign when Abhishek Sharma was out of the eleven. In Chennai, Sanju could get a taste of what it would look like in the summer when he would appear for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026.

“The batting was clicking in bilateral. This World Cup's last game was a concern. I am not looking at individuals. The last game was the worst game we played in the last two years. Our openers haven’t clicked. It's fine, I wouldn't stress too much about it. Not really that concerned.” Kotak addressed.

“We have only lost one game; it was a good game for them, and we didn't bat well. Abhishek looked good in the last game; overthinking about one individual doesn't make sense. It puts too much pressure on them. Our job is to keep him in a good frame of mind.” India’s batting coach concluded.