Ishan Kishan Makes a Triumphant Return to India's T20 World Cup Squad
Ishan Kishan's National Recall
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been selected for India's 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March. The announcement was made by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia during a press conference held at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, attended by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Surprising Inclusion in the Squad
Kishan's inclusion in the squad, alongside Rinku Singh, came as a pleasant surprise. His return to the national team after a two-year hiatus is attributed to his impressive performances in domestic cricket, particularly in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26, where he led Jharkhand to their first title in the tournament.
Outstanding Performance in SMAT 2025
In the 2025 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Kishan excelled as the tournament's highest run-scorer, accumulating 517 runs, which included two centuries and two fifties, with an impressive average of 57.44 across 10 matches. Notably, he scored a century in the final against Haryana.
Viral Video Highlights His Kindness
As Kishan prepares for his return to the Indian squad for the T20 series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup 2026, an old video of him interacting with a specially-abled fan has gone viral on social media. In the clip, the fan requests Kishan for his Indian jersey, to which he responds that he is not currently in the team but promises to gift his jersey once he makes a comeback.
Challenges Faced and Overcome
Kishan faced challenges after being removed from the BCCI central contract due to not participating in domestic cricket in 2024. His last appearance for India was in a Test match against the West Indies in 2023. Although he was part of the squad for the Tests and T20I series against South Africa that year, he opted out for personal reasons and mental fatigue.
Determined Comeback Efforts
Despite setbacks, Kishan worked hard in domestic cricket to catch the selectors' attention over the past year. He participated in various tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Although his IPL 2024 season with the Mumbai Indians was modest, he continued to perform well in the ongoing domestic season.
Regaining Central Contract and Future Prospects
During the IPL 2025 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kishan regained his central contract, being placed in the 'C' category by the BCCI. His stellar performance in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has solidified his return to the national team, earning him a spot in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad. While it remains uncertain if he will be in the starting XI for the World Cup, he is expected to play in the T20I series against New Zealand to gain match experience.