Sanju Samson likely to be picked ahead of Ishan Kishan for Bangladesh T20Is

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Despite his two consecutive ducks and a few fumbles behind the stumps, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is very likely to retain his spot for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh.

Ishan Kishan also returned to domestic cricket and put himself in contention for an India comeback with flashy hundreds in Buchi Babu Tournament, and the Duleep Trophy 2024. However, his last three scores of 1, 5 and 17 have helped in favour of Samson.

Sanju Samson played in the last two matches for Shreyas Iyer's India D, and smashed a match-winning first innings hundred against India B. He followed it with a solid 45 in the second innings. In his first outing of the Duleep Trophy 2024, he was dismissed for 5 in the first innings against India A, but scored 40 off 45 in the second innings. The innings consisted of three fours and as many sixes.

The Kerala star was part of India's T20 World Cup 2024 which won the trophy after beating South Africa in Barbados on June 29. However, he did not play in any of the matches.

He was benched in the first T20I against Sri Lanka as well. Rishabh Pant played ahead of him and scored 49 runs off 33 deliveries. Samson came in for unfit Shubman Gill in the second T20I but was dismissed for a golden duck. In the next outing Pant was rested to give him a chance, but he was dismissed for a four-ball duck again.

Why Sanju Samson will retain his T20I spot?

However, Sanju Samson looks set to retain his place as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the series against Sri Lanka which starts from October 6 in Gwalior.

The fact that the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul will be rested for the India vs Sri Lanka T20I series is only going to help Samson. The 29-year-old will be the perfect option to open the innings in the absence of regulars.

Notably, Ishan Kishan has been picked in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup against Mumbai from October 1. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who is part of the Indian Test squad for second Test against Bangladesh, has also been named in the Rest of India squad, and will join the squad if not picked in the India playing eleven.

Sanju Samson hasn't been called to play in Irani Cup 2024 which will conclude just a day before the start of the India vs Bangladesh T20I series. While players can be pulled out from domestic matches for international duty, for now it is understood that Ishan will be asked to play the domestic red-ball match.

Samson was not picked for Duleep Trophy first-round matches and it was a clear hint that he is not in the scheme of things for Test cricket. The management as well as the selectors might be looking to keep Ishan Kishan ready as a backup wicketkeeper-batter amid a busy Test season. Jurel is there but is currently far more less experienced than southpaw Kishan, who can be the perfect cover for Pant in Australian conditions as well.