5 IPL 2026 Openers Who Could Replace Sanju Samson in T20I

Sanju Samson’s IPL 2026 journey with CSK has been a rollercoaster, and now it looks like his spot in the T20I squad is under serious threat. Despite a hundred and a solid 48 in a couple of wins, his inconsistency could see him benched as new talents are turning heads. With the emergence of some serious hitters in the powerplay, Samson's time might be up.

First on the list is Priyansh Arya from PBKS. This kid has been smashing sixes like he’s playing backyard cricket, racking up over 450 runs last season and already showing his class this year with a strike rate of 248. His 93 off 37 against LSG was pure fireworks. Next up, we have Yashasvi Jaiswal, who’s a master at balancing aggression and game awareness. He’s been piling on runs for Rajasthan Royals, and with 223 runs at a strike rate of 152.73 this season, he’s definitely a contender.

Then there’s Prabhsimran Singh, a PBKS opener who’s been quietly getting the job done. After a breakout season, he’s not slowing down with 211 runs this time around, including match-winning innings. And let’s not forget the prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who at just 15 is already making waves with a blistering strike rate. If he continues this form, he could be a game-changer for India.

Finally, Shubman Gill is eyeing a comeback. After being dropped from the World Cup squad, he’s sitting pretty at second in the Orange Cap race with 265 runs. If he keeps this up, he could easily slot in at the top of the order. Samson better watch his back, because these youngsters are not just here to play; they’re here to dominate!