Sanju Samson equals Ishan Kishan for huge T20I record after match-winning knock against New Zealand

Sanju Samson's prolific run in the shortest format of the game continued to reach new milestones after he equaled Ishan Kishan's benchmark for the most 50-plus scores by an Indian batter in a single calendar year in T20 Internationals.    

Samson achieved the feat on Thursday during the opening T20I against New Zealand, where he struck an explosive 67 off just 33 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries and four sixes. The half-century marked his eighth 50-plus score in T20Is in 2026, drawing him level with fellow wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan.

Most 50-plus scores for India in a calendar year in T20Is

11 - Suryakumar Yadav in 2022
9 - Virat Kohli in 2022
9 - Abhishek Sharma in 2026
8 - Ishan Kishan in 2026
8 - Sanju Samson in 2026

A Stellar Year In Blue Jersey

Samson has turned 2026 into a breakthrough chapter in his international career. Earlier in the year, he played a central role in India's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, where his consistency and match-winning knocks earned him the Player of the Tournament honor.  

His rich vein of form extended through the recent bilateral series against the West Indies - where he recorded consecutive scores of 82 and 56 - before producing another masterclass against New Zealand.

Opening the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma (29 off 12 balls), the duo put together a blistering 93-run stand inside the powerplay to power India to 94/1 in six overs, marking one of India's highest powerplay totals in T20I cricket history.  

Ishan Kishan’s Parallel Run

Ishan Kishan has also enjoyed a prolific 2026, amassing over 1,150 T20I runs at a high strike rate, including a century and multiple fifties.

He recently became only the second Indian (after Suryakumar Yadav) to score 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year and has hit more than 50 sixes this year. His consistent returns in the middle order have complemented the explosive opening pair of Abhishek and Samson.⁠

With several matches remaining in the New Zealand series and more fixtures likely before the year ends, both Samson and Kishan (as well as Abhishek Sharma) remain in contention to climb higher on the list.

Samson, in particular, is well-placed to challenge Kohli’s mark of nine if he continues his current form.