NEW DELHI: Ishan Kishan's explosive return to form has thrown India's opening combination back into sharp focus, reigniting the debate over who should partner Abhishek Sharma at the top as the hosts aim to wrap up the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in the third game at Guwahati on Sunday.
With the T20 World Cup just two weeks away and only three matches left in the current series, India's overall blueprint appears largely settled. Both the batting and bowling units look well balanced, leaving only a handful of positions still open for discussion - and one of the most scrutinised remains the opening slot currently occupied by Sanju Samson.
Pressure mounts on Samson
Kishan's blistering 76 off just 32 deliveries has only intensified the spotlight on Samson, whose returns have been underwhelming despite a run of opportunities. Handed the opening role alongside Abhishek Sharma after Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill was dropped from the T20I setup, Samson has struggled to convert starts into impactful scores.
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Gill, while technically sound, had found it difficult to assert himself in the shortest format and was sidelined in a bold selection call to make room for Samson. The decision was backed by Samson's rich vein of form when he struck three centuries in five matches, but Kishan's emphatic statement has reopened the conversation at a crucial juncture of India's World Cup preparations.
Back in his favoured role at the top of the order, the Kerala batter has been unable to make it count, and the clock is ticking fast with virtually no room left for course correction ahead of the T20 World Cup. The remainder of the series now shapes up as a decisive audition, with every outing carrying added weight.
Samson's weakness against pace comes to the fore
Concerns over his susceptibility to high-quality pace have also re-emerged. The pattern is not new. During the England series last year, he was dismissed cheaply five times by fast bowlers, including a hat-trick of failures against Jofra Archer that exposed a recurring weakness.
That trend has continued against New Zealand. In the first two matches, Samson managed scores of 10 and 6, falling to Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry respectively.
Former India opener and noted coach WV Raman summed it up on social media after his Raipur dismissal.
"Samson will be inconsistent as long as he doesn't adjust the speed of his bat on the downswing in relation to the pace of the ball. In simple terms one can't drive a car at the same speed all the time, everywhere," Raman posted on X.
Samson also looked untidy behind the stumps, failing to collect a wide yorker from Arshdeep Singh that ran away for four byes as New Zealand crossed the 200-run mark.
Surya silences his critics
There were concerns over skipper Suryakumar Yadav's prolonged lean patch, but he silenced his critics in style, ending a run of 23 T20I innings without a fifty with a blazing 82 off 37 balls.
The seven-wicket win in the second T20, which gave India a 2-0 lead, was even more impressive as it came without much contribution from in-form Abhishek Sharma, the explosive inform world No. 1 T20I batter, who fell for a golden duck.
Suryakumar seemed to have tweaked his approach in walking across the stumps to access the off-side and playing his trademark strokes over point and covers.
From 10 off 10 balls, he stepped on the gas in style smashing 72 from the next 27 deliveries as India chased down 209 with ease, reaching the target in just 15.2 overs. However, before Suryakumar took charge, the platform was set by the diminutive left-hander Kishan, who blasted a 21-ball fifty.
Record-chase
India had slipped to 6/2 in 1.1 overs, but Kishan's counter-attack turned the game around as they completed their joint-highest successful T20I chase with 28 balls to spare. It was the Jharkhand keeper-batter's second match since returning from the wilderness after being dropped from the contract list for skipping domestic cricket.
He worked his way back through the grind, led his state side to a domestic T20 title and grabbed his opportunity on recall. With Kishan and Suryakumar in top form, India scored at a staggering 14.50 runs per over and lost just one wicket in the crucial overs seven to ten, effectively sealing New Zealand's fate.
On the bowling front, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and seamer Harshit Rana controlled the middle overs after Arshdeep leaked 36 runs in his first two overs.
Injury concerns
India would hope Axar Patel's finger injury isn't serious ahead of the global showpiece and gets more game time, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, rested for the second match, is expected to return. Since the turnaround time between games is too less with travel included, the team management decided to rotate the pacers.
For New Zealand, it remains to be seen how they bounce back after the walloping.
The Mitchell Santner-led side may look at tactical changes, possibly promoting in-form Daryl Mitchell, who has been their in-form batter hitting two centuries and a fifty in their 2-1 ODI series win.
Fielding, usually a New Zealand strength, was a major letdown. Santner and Ish Sodhi dropped catches, including a sitter offered by Suryakumar, allowing India to build momentum.
The visitors also faltered tactically, replacing Matt Henry with Zak Foulkes, who conceded 24 runs in his first over as Kishan launched an assault.
Instead of tightening the screws, they stuck to a rigid template and failed to apply the brakes at crucial moments.
Teams (from)
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Devon Conway, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodi, Zak Foulkes, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.
Match starts: 7pm.
(With PTI Inputs)
