Explosive wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was the most notable inclusion when Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia announced the squad for T20 World Cup 2026. Kishan was rewarded for his performances in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025, leading Jharkhand to a title win. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained why Kishan was included just one bilateral series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
“He bats at the top in white-ball cricket, and he’s been in good form. He played before for India. He wasn't in the Indian team because there is a Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant ahead of him. We felt a keeper at the top gives us more solidity,” Agarkar said in the press conference on December 20.
The 27-year-old scored a century in the SMAT 2025 final against Haryana on December 18. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batter smashed 10 sixes and six fours in his 49-ball 101 as Jharkhand beat Haryana by 69 runs to get their hands on SMAT 2025 trophy.
Kishan finished the tournament as highest run-scorer. He scored 517 runs from 10 innings, averaging 57.44. His strike rate of 197.32 stood out. He had two centuries and as many fifties in the season.
When was the last time Kishan played T20I?
Kishan's last T20I appearance was against Australia on November 28, 2023 in Guwahati. He bagged a five-ball duck.
What are Ishan Kishan’s statistics in T20Is?
Kishan made his T20I debut in 2021. From 32 T20Is, he scored 796 runs at an average of 25.67 and strike rate of 124.37. He has six half-centuries in the format in India colours.
Ishan Kishan's comeback game
Kishan is set to make his T20I comeback against New Zealand in the T20I series commencing on January 21, 2026. He does not have a good record against the BlackCaps in the format. From seven T20Is against the Kiwis, he has 103 runs at an average of 14.71 and strike rate of 92.79.