Team India’s former spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin took to his X handle to share his excitement after the announcement of the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026.
The 39-year-old conveyed his heartfelt wishes to Sanju Samson, hoping for him to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma in the forthcoming tournament.
While Ashwin openly congratulated Samson by calling him ‘Thambi’ (meaning younger brother in Tamil), he lauded Ishan Kishan for making a great comeback into international cricket after two years.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026: Reaction of Ishan Kishan to His Selection in Team India Squad!
Ashwin About India’s Title Defence in T20 World Cup 2026
Ravichandran Ashwin confidently tweeted about India’s possibility of defending the T20 World Cup crown at home, citing the immense strength of the current squad:
“Excellent! Now the Title Defence is loading. This is a Superb Squad as Rinku Singh makes a comeback.
Especially, I am very happy for my Thambii Sanju, who now gets a chance to bat as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma. Adipoli Chhettaa (meaning Super Bro in Malayalam) Adipoli Chhettaa!
A big cheer for Ishan Kishan, who exhibited his intent and worked hard on his skills in domestic cricket,” Ashwin shared his tweet on Saturday (December 20).
A Deep Bonding Between Ashwin and Samson
Both Ravichandran Ashwin and Sanju Samson have shared the field in IPL as well as when playing for the national team.
For the unversed, Ashwin played for the Rajasthan Royals under Samson’s captaincy for three years (in 2022, 2023, and 2024) before moving to the Chennai Super Kings.
Samson’s Chance to Feature in the Main XI for T20 World Cup 2026
Sanju Samson holds 90% chances of featuring in the playing XI. However, he still faces stiff competition against the wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who was the top performer of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025.
Samson has been the key player of India’s batting line-up and has proved his worth as a reliable opener since the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after the T20 World Cup 2024.
As an opening batter, the 31-year-old scored 549 runs in 15 innings at an average of 39.21, including three centuries and a half-century.
Even after his proven prowess, Samson was demoted from the opening to the middle order ever since Shubman Gill was announced as the vice-captain of the 20-overs squad.
Although Gill’s recent injury isn’t severe, selectors have shown trust in Samson, who could turn out to be an aggressive opener. The wicketkeeper-batter made use of his chance and exhibited a top-notch performance in the recently concluded fifth T20I against South Africa. This prompted the selectors to prioritize Samson’s inclusion.
Samson is likely to continue with his explosive batting style at the top order, and his opening combination alongside Abhishek Sharma enhances India’s chances to defend the T20 World Cup title.
‘Shubman Injured and Sanju in T20WC’: Ashwin’s Opinion
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin explained how Shubman Gill’s injury paved the way for Sanju Samson to secure his spot in the playing XI:
“Certainly! Just because Shubman Gill got injured, he was ruled out of the series. And from then onwards, it became clear that Sanju would play the T20 World Cup. This is a simple fact that does not require any rocket science.
Having played for nearly 15 to 20 years for India, I have myself faced a lot of situations. Shubman getting injured and Sanju’s entry into the playing XI weren’t just easy decisions to make.
It is a fact that the selectors have backed too much on Gill, just because he was named as the vice-captain. Now, it becomes very clear about the team combination on how well it is set.
Most importantly, the feedback must come from the Indian cricket team. I still remember how India changed their approach in powerplay, which Rohit set an example in the previous World Cup. And this is one such style they always wanted to continue. Sanju and Abhishek, as the openers, will replicate that particular strategy and pattern of batting,” Ashwin said.
Shubman Gill’s Snub A Boon for Sanju Samson
As per the earlier plans, Shubman Gill was supposed to be named as the vice-captain of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. However, the final selection meeting at BCCI’s headquarters saw few selectors voicing their opinion against Gill’s inclusion.
Even though a few of them favored the 26-year-old’s selection, but was excluded from the squad not just because of his minor injury, but his lack of form posed a threat to the team’s success.
Because of Gill’s presence in the squad, Sanju Samson was initially demoted in the batting order and then dropped out of the playing XI. With Gill being sidelined, it is a golden opportunity for Samson to permanently retain his place as India’s core opener in T20Is.
