Sanju Samson Returns, Tilak Varma Dropped – India’s New Playing XI for Tomorrow
Team India’s playing XI for tomorrow just got a major shake-up. Sanju Samson is back in the lineup, Tilak Varma has been dropped, and Axar Patel comes in for Washington Sundar — and that’s just the headline. The batting order has also been reshuffled completely. This is one of the most talked-about selection calls in this edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and every Indian fan needs to know what’s happening before the toss tomorrow.
What’s Changed in India’s Playing XI
The team management has made four clear changes for tomorrow’s game. Here’s a quick breakdown before we get into the details:
| Change | Out | In |
|---|---|---|
| Wicketkeeper | Ishan Kishan (keeping) | Sanju Samson (keeping) |
| Opening Pair | Previous setup | Samson + Abhishek Sharma |
| No. 3 Batter | — | Ishan Kishan (first down) |
| Spinning All-rounder | Washington Sundar | Axar Patel |
These aren’t minor tweaks. India have essentially rearranged their entire top order and replaced a key bowling option — all in one go.
Sanju Samson Back in the XI — and Opening!
This is the big one. Sanju Samson not only returns to the playing XI but he is opening the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma. Samson will also take over the wicketkeeping gloves tomorrow, which means Ishan Kishan moves down the order to bat at No. 3 and fields without keeping duties.
Samson is one of the most explosive openers in T20 cricket when he’s in form. His ability to clear the ropes from ball one makes him a nightmare for opposition bowlers in the powerplay. Getting him back at the top of the order is a bold but exciting move from the team management.
Key stats for Sanju Samson in recent T20Is:
- Explosive powerplay scorer — can go at 170+ SR in the first 6 overs
- Strong record against both pace and spin
- Experienced wicketkeeper who brings calm to the lineup
Tilak Varma Dropped — A Surprise Call
Tilak Varma has been left out for tomorrow’s game. This is a surprise given how well the young left-hander has performed at the international level. However, with Ishan Kishan now slotting into the No. 3 position, the team has essentially opted for a different kind of balance in the middle order.
It’s a tough call but it signals that India’s think-tank wants more power and experience at the top rather than relying on a middle-order builder at this stage of the tournament. Tilak remains in the squad and could return depending on conditions and match situations ahead.
Ishan Kishan at First Down — A New Role
Ishan Kishan’s role tomorrow is fascinating. He comes in at No. 3 — first down — without keeping duties since Samson has the gloves. This allows Kishan to focus entirely on batting, which could actually unlock a sharper version of him.
Kishan at No. 3 gives India a left-handed option early in the innings, which creates match-up problems for opposition bowlers who set their field for right-handers. It also means India have two aggressive stroke-makers — Samson and Abhishek — before Kishan even arrives at the crease.
Axar Patel Replaces Washington Sundar
The bowling change is equally significant. Axar Patel comes in for Washington Sundar, and this is a swap that makes a lot of sense on paper. Axar is a proven left-arm spinner who can be dangerous on any surface, while also offering genuine lower-order hitting ability.
Why Axar over Washington tomorrow:
- Left-arm spin creates different angles compared to Washington’s off-spin
- Axar is more aggressive with the bat in the death overs
- His economy rate in T20Is has been consistently impressive at big tournaments
- He thrives under pressure, which suits the Super 8 knockout-style atmosphere
Washington Sundar is not out of the picture — conditions and matchups will decide whether he comes back into the XI in future games. Check all the latest Super 8 group standings and fixtures to see where India stand and what’s coming next.
India’s Predicted Batting Order for Tomorrow
With all these changes confirmed, here’s how India’s lineup is expected to look:
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | Opener |
| 2 | Sanju Samson (wk) | Opener |
| 3 | Ishan Kishan | Top-order Batter |
| 4 | Virat Kohli | Anchor |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma (c) | Middle Order |
| 6 | Hardik Pandya | Allrounder |
| 7 | Axar Patel | Spin Allrounder |
| 8 | Shivam Dube | Power Hitter |
| 9 | Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Pacer |
| 11 | Jasprit Bumrah | Lead Pacer |
This is a well-balanced XI with serious depth in both batting and bowling. The top three can all score at over 150 SR which gives India a flying start in every scenario.
For the full India team squad and player profiles heading into the Super 8 stage, everything is updated and ready.
Why These Changes Matter at This Stage
The Super Eights is where tournaments are won and lost. Every selection decision carries extra weight now. India’s management has clearly decided that:
- More power at the top of the order is needed
- A left-arm spin option with batting ability gives better balance
- Ishan Kishan’s focus should be purely on batting, not keeping
These are smart, calculated moves. India have been one of the most complete teams in this tournament and these changes show they are still evolving their combinations rather than getting comfortable. Keep track of every result and score on the T20 WC 2026 live match schedule to follow India’s campaign game by game.
FAQs – India Playing XI Update
Who is opening the batting for India tomorrow? Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings for India tomorrow.
Who is keeping wickets for India in tomorrow’s match? Sanju Samson will be the wicketkeeper tomorrow. Ishan Kishan will bat at No. 3 and field without keeping duties.
Why has Tilak Varma been dropped? Tilak Varma has been left out to accommodate the new opening combination and Ishan Kishan at first down. It’s a tactical reshuffle, not a form drop.
Why is Axar Patel playing instead of Washington Sundar? Axar Patel brings left-arm spin variety and stronger death-overs batting. The team management preferred his match-up advantages for tomorrow’s conditions.
What number will Ishan Kishan bat at tomorrow? Ishan Kishan will bat at No. 3 — first down — in tomorrow’s game for India.
Where can I follow India’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches live? You can follow all live scores, streams and updates on the T20 WC 2026 news and updates section.
