Ishan Kishan: Since his white-ball international debut in 2021, the short left-handed batsman has participated in 27 ODIs and 32 T20Is. Mainly utilized as a temporary solution, the 27-year-old has not played for India in more than two years.
In a brief period, Ishan Kishan faced various challenges that his contemporaries did not, including controversy surrounding his ‘walking out’ during a tour of South Africa at the end of 2023, criticism from the BCCI for ignoring domestic matches, and being excluded from the central contracts for a year.
The selectors’ decision to include him in the Indian team for the 2026 T20 World Cup is a daring choice and a shock for the average fan. It serves as a recognition for how the Jharkhand hipster transformed inner turmoil into a positive force on the field. He didn’t complain or assume the role of a victim. He stayed silent and allowed the performance to do the shouting.
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It was a bold choice to replace Shubman Gill with Kishan. Yashasvi Jaiswal was in front of him in line and a member of the team that clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup. He is also in form, having scored a 100 off 50 balls in the recent domestic T20 championship.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that the team’s management desired both wicketkeepers to be available as opening choices. This is how Kishan became the second keeper alongside Sanju Samson, surpassing Jitesh Sharma, who played in the recently concluded series against South Africa
Since making his white-ball international debut in 2021, the small left-handed batsman has appeared in 27 ODIs and 32 T20Is. Primarily utilized as a temporary solution, the 27-year-old has not played for India in more than two years. Abhishek Sharma emerged during this time and claimed one opening position for himself.
Kishan has joined his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate in the Indian World Cup squad due to his performance on the platforms accessible to him. He shined once at the start and again near the end in IPL 2025, but when given the chance to excel for Jharkhand, he succeeded on several occasions.
The final one arrived just in time, two days prior to the announcement of the team for the New Zealand series and T20 World Cup. Kishan’s 101 off 49 balls led Jharkhand to triumph in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. His second century of the event couldn’t have come at a better time. It was no different. Since the previous season, he has scored centuries across all domestic formats.
In addition to supplying extra strength to the Indian team’s top order, Kishan’s selection serves as a reminder that selectors prioritize performances in domestic T20 matches. The Jharkhand captain did not stand out in IPL2025. He still joined the national team due to his significant contributions in the competitions held away from the limelight. That’s positive news for Kishan and cricket in India.