India’s veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra reckons Sanju Samson might not play the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Samson, 29, will be 31 in the T20I showpiece and Mishra feels the Kerala batter will be old for the T20I format.

Samson was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad but didn’t get to play a single game as Rishabh Pant was preferred as the first-choice keeper. The flamboyant right-hander was able to make the cut after an impressive run for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, scoring 531 runs in 15 innings at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46, with five half-centuries.

Meanwhile, Samson also scored a gutsy knock of 58 runs off 45 balls in the final T20I against Zimbabwe to help India post 167 runs on the board and eventually register a 42-run win to seal the series by 4-1.

However, many cricket boffins reckon that Samson hasn’t performed consistently at the top level despite all of his talent.

Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Amit Mishra said, “I don’t think so. He is old now. There is such a heavy influx of youngsters in the team this concept was introduced by Virat Kohli – that in T20Is, young players perform more, India need them more. He himself is 35.”

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is after India’s World Cup triumph in the West Indies.

Adding further, Mishra added that Samson will need to perform extraordinarily to have a chance in the national team as the competition is intense for the wicket-keeper spot.

“If Samson has to play, he will have to perform extraordinarily well. If he is in the team now, he should remain there until the next World Cup after two years. Then he can be considered. Otherwise, it is tough. Because there are so many youngsters knocking on the door.

“Ishan Kishan, such a wonderful talent, is sitting out of T20Is. Rishabh Pant has always been there. Dhruv Jurel, Jitesh Sharma… it’s a long queue.”

Samson has scored 444 runs in 28 T20Is at an average of 21.14 and a strike rate of 133.33.