The announcement of the Indian squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup took place on Saturday in Mumbai, sparking discussions. Initially, it was believed that only players from the recent T20 series would be considered, but the selectors surprised everyone by including Ishan Kishan. Having been off the radar for nearly two years, Kishan was largely absent from discussions and plans. So, how did he find his way back into the World Cup squad? Dive into the fascinating story of Ishan Kishan's return to the team...
The Reward of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Ishan Kishan
In recent times, Ishan Kishan was not part of India's T20I plans, appearing to lag behind Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, and Rishabh Pant in the race for wicketkeeper spots. However, Kishan has now directly earned a spot in the 15-member domestic T20 World Cup team.
While Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav cited 'combination' as the reason for dropping Shubman Gill in favor of Kishan, Kishan's impressive performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) played a crucial role.
Read More: "They are good players, but team combination is key...," explains Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar on Shubman Gill's exclusion
Ishan Kishan led Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title triumph, remaining unbeaten. He amassed 517 runs, the highest in the tournament, smashed 33 sixes (the most in the competition), and ended with a strike rate of 197.32. Kishan's return became even more striking but impactful due to Shubman Gill's struggles as an opener in T20Is.
A Glance at Ishan Kishan's T20 Career
To date, Ishan Kishan has played 32 T20 International matches in his career, scoring a total of 796 runs with a best score of 89. His strike rate exceeds 124. Kishan last appeared in a T20 match against Australia on November 28, 2023, where he unfortunately couldn't open his account. Nevertheless, his recent performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand have been remarkable, including scoring a century in the final game.
Read More: India T20 World Cup Squad: The announcement of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill out, Ishan Kishan makes a surprise entry
Jitesh Sharma Misses Out
When Jitesh Sharma was given a chance against South Africa in the T20 series, it seemed like he would become the first choice for Indian selectors for the World Cup. Though Jitesh was limited in opportunities during the series, he performed well and was still overlooked.
Rinku Singh's Return, A Second Chance
Rinku Singh was a regular part of the T20I team from 2022 to 2024, delivering exceptional performances as a finisher. However, his opportunities dwindled due to India prioritizing multi-skilled players. Now Rinku Singh returns as a finisher, once again securing a spot on the team.
The 15-Member Indian Squad for T20 World Cup:
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper).
It's notable that the T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tournament is slated to begin on February 7 and culminate in a final scheduled for March 20. Defending champions, the Indian team is placed in Group-A, which includes teams from the USA, Namibia, the Netherlands, and Pakistan.
