India drop the ball on Sanju Samson after Ishan Kishan earns trust; Bumrah ruled out as BCCI drops 'health' update

India are without Jasprit Bumrah in the T20 World Cup match against the USA due to an illness.

Updated on: Feb 7, 2026, 19:06:11 IST

Deutsche WelleWritten by Aratrick Mondal

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The management had hinted at the possibility during the warm-up game against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday, but put an end to the debate on Saturday when India took the field against the USA in their T20 World Cup opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Mohammed Siraj, left, and Sanju Samson during a warm-up session before the start of the T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and USA (PTI)

Having failed to impress the decision-makers, Sanju Samson was axed, with Ishan Kishan named as the opener for the Group A clash.

Samson had been assured the opening role when the selectors announced the T20 World Cup squad last December, but the wicketkeeper-batter managed just 46 runs in five innings in the pre-tournament home series against New Zealand in January, including a golden duck.

IND vs USA T20 World Cup LIVE Score

Ishan, meanwhile, forced his way back into contention after a stunning Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while also benefiting from a shift in the selectors’ thinking around the batting line-up. He impressed at the top of the order against New Zealand, scoring over 200 runs to finish as the second-highest run-getter in the series, which included a century in the final match.

Having earned the management’s trust, Ishan was preferred over Samson for the USA opener.

Why is Jasprit Bumrah not in the playing XI?

India were without their premier fast bowler due to illness, as confirmed by captain Suryakumar Yadav at the toss.

The BCCI later issued a statement on Bumrah’s condition. “Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable for selection for India’s opening T20 World Cup fixture against the USA due to illness. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his condition,” it read.

In his absence, Mohammed Siraj was drafted into the XI. The right-arm pacer is making his first T20I appearance in 18 months, having last played in July 2024. Siraj was added to the World Cup squad at the eleventh hour after Hrshit Rana was ruled out injured on Friday.

The USA won the toss and opted to bowl.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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