Aakash Chopra raises red flag on star batter's middle-order record ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Former India opener and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has sparked debate around the future of Sanju Samson as India’s potential wicketkeeper-batter for the T20 World Cup 2026. While Samson has long been hailed for his stroke-making ability and elegance at the crease, Chopra believes his numbers in the middle order raise serious questions about his adaptability and reliability under pressure.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra outlined Samson’s impressive returns when batting in the top three. At positions 1-3, the Kerala cricketer has accumulated more than 6,000 T20 runs, averaging 33 at a brisk strike-rate of 140. These figures establish him as a powerful top-order option who thrives when given the license to play freely in the Powerplay and early middle overs.

"Sanju Samson is the first contender because he played the last series. He has struck three centuries in the last 12 matches. He is also a part of the team at the moment. So, of course, he will be the first guy to talk about. If we see his numbers at Nos. 1 to 3 in all T20s, he has scored more than 6000 runs at a strike rate of 140 and an average of 33. These are really good numbers at Nos. 1 to 3," said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.

However, Chopra highlighted the stark contrast in performance once Samson moves down the batting order. At positions 4-7, his numbers and averages dip which is a huge concern. "So Sanju Samson is a real contender if you want a keeper in the top three. When I look at his numbers at Nos. 4 to 7, he has played 98 matches and has an average of 20 and a strike rate of 126. Neither the strike rate nor the average looks very good at Nos. 4 to 7. You would have kept Sanju as a frontrunner at the top. However, suddenly, when you change his number, he will go down in the list," Chopra added. 

The timing of this analysis is significant. With Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal earmarked as long-term top-order options, Samson may not get the luxury of batting where he is most comfortable. Instead, the wicketkeeper-batter selected for the World Cup will likely need to play in the middle order, providing finishing power and stability, roles that demand explosive strike-rates of 140+ and the ability to soak up pressure in crunch situations.

While Samson’s fans may argue that his talent and experience cannot be ignored, Chopra’s critique underlines the importance of numbers in decision-making. If Samson wants to cement his spot, he will need to address this statistical gap and prove he can adapt to the middle-order role, because in World Cups, every run and strike-rate percentage counts.