T20 World Cup 2026: India's playing XI dilemma - more of the same or is it time to bring Sanju Samson in?

Chennai, February 24: Four hours of non-stop hitting, bowling and shadow-fielding at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday evening failed to settle the one question that has trailed the Indian dressing-room since the shock defeat to South Africa: who opens in the must-win Super Eight contest against Zimbabwe on February 26?

Coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Suryakumar Yadav and senior quick Jasprit Bumrah spent the bulk of the session stationed behind the side nets, eyes fixed on the evolving batting order. With left-handed Rinku Singh rushing home to attend to his ailing father and no clarity on his return, the think-tank’s focus has shifted to arresting a trend that has undermined India’s campaign—an overdose of left-handers at the top and the oppositions’ increasingly successful use of off-spin in the Powerplay.

Sanju Samson, gloves strapped and helmet on, was the first batter to stride in, a repeat of his early-net entry in Ahmedabad. The Rajasthan Royals keeper-batter is firmly in the mix to slot into the top three, a move that would break the left-hand stack of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma. None of the trio has collectively fired; poor starts have forced the middle order to play catch-up, a flaw South Africa exploited on a sluggish Narendra Modi Stadium track.

Tuesday’s centre-wicket practice offered clues. Tilak and Surya batted in tandem for more than an hour, rotating ends every six-ball block. When Tilak took strike, Gambhir and Bumrah observed from square leg, occasionally stepping in to tweak his stance against spin. Later the pair shifted to the adjacent net, negotiating Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj with the new ball before finishing against a mix of net spinners. Each successful shot ended with the customary fist-bump, an attempt to keep spirits high amid mounting scrutiny.

Bumrah, meanwhile, preferred an intense 20-minute skill hit with bowling consultant Morne Morkel, pounding a set of stumps at the other end. Short, laser-focused spells have become his routine, and the quick will again shoulder the new-ball burden on a Chennai surface ground-staff promise will be “true and quick” compared to the tired wickets served so far.

Dew could yet tilt strategy. Watering of the square on Tuesday night left the outfield damp around 9 p.m., a window that coincides with the back end of the second innings. India have largely batted first in the tournament and have not yet encountered heavy dew; they may be forced to if Zimbabwe win the toss and chase.

With only an optional afternoon hit scheduled for Wednesday, the final XI remains fluid. Gambhir and the selection brain-storm will weigh the security of an unchanged line-up against the temptation of inserting Samson’s clean hitting and right-handed balance at the top. The answer will emerge at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, but for now Chennai’s sea air carries more questions than solutions for the defending champions.