Ishan keeping in Thiruvananthapuram was decided before the series: Suryakumar

Sanju Samson did not keep wickets for India in the fifth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram despite being listed as the designated wicketkeeper on the team sheet. Instead, Ishan Kishan, coming off his maiden T20I hundred, took the gloves.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the move was part of a plan finalised before the series, though it did not explain why Samson was marked as wicketkeeper on the team sheet.

"Both the keepers were playing since game one as Tilak Varma was not available," Suryakumar said. "We decided before the series started that three games would be kept by Sanju Samson and two games by Ishan. Ishan unfortunately missed the last game because of a niggle, but he was anyway going to keep today."

Samson sharing wicketkeeping duties reflects his shrinking ground. His returns as an opener in 2025 have been modest. Since being picked ahead of Shubman Gill for the T20 World Cup, Samson has scored 134 runs in 11 innings as an opener this year, with a highest score of 37.

Meanwhile, Kishan has strengthened his case. He finished the series with 215 runs in four innings, ending as the second-highest run-getter behind Suryakumar, including his maiden T20I hundred.

If and when Tilak Varma returns to the squad at No.3, India are likely to face a selection call between Samson and Kishan.

Suryakumar said Tilak is "shaping well" and should join the World Cup squad soon. "Tilak Varma is much better, he's been shaping well," Suryakumar said. "I heard he's playing two games in Bombay on the 2nd and the 4th. I think two games are enough. I spoke to him yesterday, he started batting, bowling, fielding, everything. So hopefully we should have him soon."

Tilak will first play in an India A fixture against USA at the DY Patil Stadium on February 2, followed by India's warm-up match against South Africa on February 4.

There was also positive news on Washington Sundar. "Washy has almost started his bowling, batting. So he's also looking good," Suryakumar said.

India open their T20 World Cup campaign against USA on February 7 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.