Ishan Kishan's first reaction after being selected in India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad

Ishan Kishan reacts to T20 World Cup selection

While the squad selection confirmed Kishan's return, it also highlighted the high-profile omission of Shubman Gill, which came as a surprise for everyone.

"I am very happy," Kishan told ANI on being asked about his T20 World Cup selection.

Kishan’s inclusion marks a major comeback, as he has been absent from the T20I setup for over two years. His last appearance in the format dates back to November 2023 against Australia. Despite a period of inconsistent performances following that series, his selection is largely attributed to a dominant showing in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). During the tournament, Kishan silenced critics by amassing 517 runs at an impressive average of 57.44 and maintaining a blistering strike rate of 197.33 across ten matches. He also cracked a blistering century in Jharkhand's winning cause in the SMAT final against Haryana.

ALSO READ: Why Ishan Kishan got a direct entry into T20 World Cup 2026 squad after long absence? Ajit Agarkar explains rationale behind surprise move

The news has been met with widespread enthusiasm from fans, who took to the internet to praise the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and the BCCI for recalling the "pocket dynamo." With Jitesh Sharma missing from the squad, Kishan’s path to the starting lineup appears clear. Current tactical projections suggest that Sanju Samson will likely move to the top of the order to partner with Abhishek Sharma, effectively cementing Kishan’s role as the primary wicketkeeper-batter for the New Zealand series and the World Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar