Suresh Raina snubs Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson, names surprise picks for India’s T20 openers

As India prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup, the team is in the middle of a generational shift. With senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma no longer in the picture, the focus has turned to the next crop of young match-winners. Former India batter Suresh Raina has now shared his opinion on who should open the innings in the mega event, and his unexpected choices have created a stir. Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Raina placed his trust in youngsters who have already made an impact on the international and IPL stage.“I think Yashasvi is one. They can also look for Priyansh Arya; Abhishek Sharma is there, and Sanju Samson is there. KL Rahul is also there. He has performed wherever he got a chance. Ruturaj Gaikwad has also scored many runs. But I would prefer Abhishek Sharma. Shubman Gill can be captain as well; you never know,” Raina said. He added that from the three left-handers — Yashasvi Jaiswal, Priyansh Arya, and Abhishek Sharma — two could open, with Gill slotting in at No. 3. Interestingly, Jaiswal, who has already established himself as one of India’s most exciting T20 batters with 723 runs in 23 T20Is, has not been included in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, a decision that raised eyebrows. Raina’s mention of Arya also turned heads. The Punjab Kings opener impressed in his debut IPL season, scoring 475 runs in 17 matches, including a superb century. Yet to make his international debut, Arya could add a fearless spark to India’s top order in the 2026 T20 World Cup.