After Ishan Kishan finished as the highest run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, scoring 517 runs in 10 matches at an average of 57, it was only fair, to get him back into the T20I side. So, it was after nearly two years, that he was given a chance in the IND vs NZ series. And how did the southpaw repay the trust of the selectors?
He got out for 8 off 5 deliveries, after slamming a couple of boundaries. That was just a mere 10-minute stay at the crease, in what could have been a career-changing knock for him. He tried to hit Jacob Duffy over covers, in what looked like a slower-ball, and ended up giving a simple catch to Mark Chapman.
Ishan Kishan out cheaply
All the good work of a year and more, was undone by the need to be overtly aggressive. It is not like, there is a different way to play a T20I, but then a bit of caution in his first match after a long gap, would have only helped to ease his nerves and also given him time to make a statement.
The T20 World Cup is a little more than two weeks away, and it looks like India is not set with their keeper choice. There is the option of Ishan Kishan, and also of Sanju Samson. Yes, the 27-year-old is in direct competition with the Kerala player, for a place in the playing XI, for the World Cup. So, the amends will have to come soon, or the management won’t really think twice, before going with Sanju.
In 33 innings, he has scored 804 runs at an average of 25 and a strike-rate of 124.
Sanju Samson struggling too
That said, it won’t be an easy choice, because the primary keeping option — Sanju has been woefully out of form. In the last 12 T20I innings he has scored only 232 runs at an average of 19 and a strike rate of 127. In 2025, his powerplay scoring has been dismal, getting only 88 runs in 63 balls at an average of 14. That means, he is getting out fairly early, and hence the big scores are not coming.
