Tilak Varma Or Sanju Samson- Who Has Better T20I Stats? While India is revamping its opening lineup after the 2026 T20 World Cup, there has been a lot of discussion about performances and selection. The most discussed question in this regard is: Who has better T20 international stats, Tilak Varma or Sanju Samson?
Both the openers have shown flashes of brilliance, but their erratic performances in 2026 have been a reason for worry. Let’s assess their overall T20 international performance, their performance in 2026, and their impact on Team India.
Tilak Varma – Career Overview in T20 Internationals
Advertisement
Tilak Varma is widely regarded as an emerging star among T20 openers for India. His batting position at #3 has clearly been a pivotal moment in the development of his career. In fact, after requesting Suryakumar Yadav to promote him to #3 during the T20 series versus South Africa, he has greatly proven himself by having produced winning performances while playing in multiple conditions:
1) A phenomenal performance against Pakistan at the Asia Cup Final (Dubai)
2) Two back-to-back 100’s in South Africa
Stats of T20I Career by Tilak Varma
matches – 40
innings – 37
total runs – 1183
average – 49.29
strike rate – 144.09
100s – 2
50s – 6
While Tilak Varma’s career stats are very impressive with an average of around 50 and a strike rate of over 140.
Tilak Varma Statistics for 2026
Tilak Varma has had a difficult 2026 T20 World Cup as he had entered the tournament with good performances.
matches – 5
innings – 5
total runs – 107
highest score – 31
average – 21.4
strike rate – 118.88
Fifties / Hundreds – 0
Due to a reduced strike rate and not being able to turn good innings into bigger ones, Tilak Varma’s position on the team (playing XI) is now under considerable scrutiny.
Sanju Samson – Career Overview in T20 Internationals
Advertisement
The Indian T20 squad has used Sanju Samson’s versatility as both an opener and a middle-order batsman. Throughout his career, he has found the most fruitful experiences in batting primarily as an opener when regularly playing in this role produces more consistent results for him with scores of 100+ twice in succession due to frequent shifts in his batting spot causing a disturbance with both his flow and results on the field.
Sanju Samson – T20I Statistics Overall
Number of Matches: Fifty-Seven
Number of Runs Scored: 1032
Batting Average: 25.80
Batting Strike Rate: Approximately 140+
Number of 100s: 3
Number of 50s: 3
Although Samson has played in T20I more times than Tilak Varma and scored more than Tilak in 100s, his batting average is significantly lower than Tilak’s.
Samson’s Performance in 2026
In 2026, Samson played six times and totaled 68 runs in six innings with a top score of 42 and an average of just 11.33. Although he has a very high strike rate of 161.9, he did not have a single inning in which he scored 50 runs or more and no innings of 100 runs or more.
While he has a very high strike rate, his batting average is very low; therefore, he is not consistent as he has had very few good or large innings.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Which Player is Better Based on Their T20 International Statistics Tilak Varma vs. Sanju Samson?
| Category | Tilak Varma | Sanju Samson |
| Matches | 40 | 57 |
| Runs | 1183 | 1032 |
| Batting Average | 49.29 | 25.80 |
| Strike Rate | 144.09 | ~140 |
| Centuries | 2 | 3 |
| Fifties | 6 | 3 |
Key Observations:
Average: Tilak Varma is clearly better.
Tilak Varma appears to be more consistent.
Sanju Samson has an additional century.
Both have struggled in 2026, but Tilak Varma’s average has been somewhat higher than Sanju’s average this year.
Samju has been more aggressive than Tilak Varma in 2026.
Who has better T20I stats? Is it Tilak Varma or Sanju Samson?
When it comes to overall statistics, Tilak Varma has better T20I stats than Sanju Samson. This is because of his better average, consistency at No. 3, and the capacity to anchor and accelerate.
However, in 2026, both players have been struggling with form. While Tilak Varma has been slow and inconsistent, Samson has been aggressive but unable to convert his starts into something substantial.
What Could Happen Next?
The team management might go on supporting Tilak because of his overall impressive performance. Sanju Samson might be given another chance, particularly if the team requires a aggressive opener. Ultimately, performance and team combination will decide who gets a permanent place in the Indian T20 side.
ALSO READ: WATCH: 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6…6 sixes And 4 fours By Benjamin Manenti At Eden Gardens
Advertisement