Sanju Samson during practice ahead of the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. (PTI Photo) Sanju Samson has not been named in India’s playing XI for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 against the United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.India captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed at the toss that Ishan Kishan replaced Samson at the top of the order, opening the innings for Abhishek Sharma. Tilak Verma was included in the middle order. USA captain Monank Patel won the toss and elected to bowl first.
India destroys dough | Ishan Kishan vs Sanju Samson Match End
India have also left out Jasprit Bumrah, who is ill, with Mohammed Siraj coming into the playing XI. Even Washington Sundar did not make the team.“We are missing Washi (Washington Sundar), we are missing Sanju (Samson). Unfortunately Bumrah is not well so Siraj is playing,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the toss.“We wanted to bat first. The wicket looks good, there’s wind around so we don’t expect dew. It’s lively even before the game starts and I’m sure it will get even better,” he added.Samson opened the batting in the last five T20Is during the series against New Zealand but did not score many runs. In India’s only warm-up match before the T20 World Cup, Samson did not bat.Meanwhile, Kishan has strengthened his case with recent performances. Batting at No. 3, he scored a half-century and a century in the New Zealand series. He also opened the innings in the warm-up game against South Africa, scoring 53 off 20 balls and keeping wickets in that match.Apart from Samson, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar were not included in India’s playing eleven for the match.TeamsIndia: Ishan Kishan (w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy.USA: Saiteja Mukkamalla, Andries Gous (wk), Monank Patel (c), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Shubham Ranjane, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan.
