Ishan Kishan is the only selected player for the T20 World Cup 2026 who hasn’t played a single T20I game in this World Cup cycle for India. His last appearance came back in December 2023 and now he is part of the 15-man squad as India eye to become the first team to defend a T20 World Cup.
The BCCI selection committee made a pivot from their plans after they dropped Shubman Gill. They had given him a long rope as a vice-captain but he failed to deliver. With this, India went with a proven opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who both are touted to open the innings for India in T20Is at the mega event. But now, Ishan Kishan could create a headache as well, as he is another opening option and second-choice wicket-keeper too.
Ishan Kishan to push Sanju Samson for opening spot
According to Kishan’s childhood coach and mentor Uttam Mazumdar, Kishan can be looked in the first playing XI and his best spot to bat is obviously opening.
“The team management will decide the playing XI, but I think Ishan will be most effective in the powerplay with Abhishek Sharma. Yes, he can bat in the middle order, but he has been opening in the IPL for years and showed his destructive power-hitting in the SMAT,” said Mazumdar while speaking to Telecom Asia Sport.
Kishan’s big break in the Indian team came after his superlative performance at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). He SMATed his way into the T20 World Cup squad.
Kishan not only guided Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title with an unbeaten record, he also ended up as the highest run-getter with 517 runs along with 33 sixes (also the highest) at a strike rate of 197.32. This, alongside the failure of Shubman Gill as an opener in T20Is, has propelled Kishan to a surprising call up.
Although Samson is obviously going to start with Abhishek Sharma come the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Kishan would be breathing down his neck. As a reply to his selection, Kishan hammered down a historic 33-ball century for Jharkhand in the opening day of 50-over domestic tournament, Vijay Hazare Trophy.
