As Indian cricket begins planning for the future in T20Is, the debate over the team’s next captain is only getting more intense. While Suryakumar Yadav remains in charge for now, reports suggest that his position is under scrutiny despite leading India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title. Several players have emerged as possible successors, including Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel and Sanju Samson.
Among those names, Sanju Samson was initially viewed as a strong contender. The Kerala batter’s reputation soared after he was named the Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup. At a time when Suryakumar Yadav was struggling for form, many believed Sanju Samson had a genuine chance of taking over the leadership role.
However, a recent report suggests that key decision-makers remain unconvinced about his consistency in the shortest format. According to the report, while Sanju Samson’s recent performances have worked in his favour, concerns over his ability to deliver consistently continue to influence discussions. The report also noted that Axar Patel’s experience as vice-captain, along with Ishan Kishan’s age, form and leadership credentials, are factors being considered during the selection process.
The label of being “inconsistent” has followed Sanju Samson throughout his international career. Since making his India debut as a teenager in 2015, he has often been viewed as a highly talented but unpredictable batter. During the early years of his career, his aggressive style of play did not receive the same backing as players who adopted a more conservative run-scoring approach.
Sanju Samson rebuilt his case in the latter part of his Rajasthan Royals career, scoring 484, 458, 362, and 561 runs across seasons up to 2024 before an injury-hit 2025 campaign slowed his momentum.
His journey with the Indian team has also been far from straightforward. He was initially pushed into the middle order to accommodate Shubman Gill and later lost his place because of poor form. Even after Gill was left out ahead of the T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson was still behind Ishan Kishan in the pecking order.
When an opportunity finally arrived midway through the tournament, Sanju Samson grabbed it with both hands. He produced three consecutive match-winning half-centuries in the knockout stages and played a major role in India’s title-winning campaign. He then carried that form into the IPL 2026 with Chennai Super Kings, scoring 477 runs at an average of 43.36 and a strike rate of 165.63.
Does Sanju Samson deserve a chance to be the India’s next T20 captain? What do you think?
