Samson fallout? BCCI rewarded form over reputation

Ishan Kishan is among contenders for India's next T20 captain alongside Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson, according to reports citing BCCI sources. The search for a post-IPL 2026 leader is underway, and Kishan now plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sanju Samson lost his T20 World Cup starting spot to Kishan because of the latter's domestic form — and he's accepted it. After joining the XI, Samson scored over 320 runs and won Player of the Tournament. He praised Kishan's hard work after a two-year absence from the national side. Form had won out over reputation.

Kishan's breakthrough pushed Samson out and positioned both for leadership roles now. The BCCI has made its priority clear: IPL runs and domestic consistency are the gatekeepers to India selection. Strike rates, back-to-back scores, staying in the mix — that's the ticket. Samson now captains Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026.