Ishan Kishan Promoted to Opener for India Warm-Up, Replaces Sanju Samson

Ishan Kishan has been rewarded for his sensational return to form, earning the opening spot alongside Abhishek Sharma for India's T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa. This decision comes at the expense of Sanju Samson, who struggled for runs in the preceding five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

Kishan, who was making his comeback to the national T20I side after a two-year hiatus, finished the New Zealand series as the second-highest run-scorer, amassing 215 runs across four innings at a blistering strike rate of 231.18, including a century in the final match. His promotion to the top of the order confirms the team management's confidence in his aggressive approach, particularly given the absence of Rohit Sharma in the warm-up fixture.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed the opening pair at the toss, emphasizing the need to challenge the bowlers and test the team's capabilities ahead of the main tournament. The move highlights the competitive nature of India's batting lineup, where recent performance dictates selection, positioning Kishan as a key figure heading into the global event.