Ishan Kishan Celebrated for T20 World Cup Selection by Family
Excitement Surrounds Ishan Kishan's T20 World Cup Selection
Patna (Bihar) [India], December 20: The announcement of Ishan Kishan's inclusion in the Indian Cricket Team for the T20 World Cup has filled his family with immense pride. His father, Pranav Pandey, shared his enthusiasm, saying, "The journey in sports has its highs and lows, but Ishan has put in a lot of effort to reach this point."
Suryakumar Yadav is set to captain a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Notably, Shubman Gill, who served as the vice-captain of the T20I team, has been left out due to concerns regarding his fitness and form, while Axar Patel returns to the role of vice-captain.
Kishan makes his comeback as the second wicketkeeper-batter after a stellar performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he played a pivotal role in Jharkhand's championship victory and finished as the top run-scorer.
In an interview, Pranav Pandey remarked, "The journey in sports includes its ups and downs. Ishan has dedicated himself, and his skills have significantly improved. We are thrilled that he is now part of the WT20 team."
Ishan had an outstanding SMAT 2025/26 season, leading Jharkhand to their inaugural title. He last participated in a T20I against Australia in late 2023.
During the SMAT, he amassed 517 runs across 10 innings at an impressive average of 57.44, featuring two centuries and two fifties, including a century in the final against Haryana, with a strike rate exceeding 197.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Devajit Saikia, announced the team at the board's headquarters on Saturday, alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
At the press conference, Agarkar explained that Gill's exclusion was due to the team's exploration of different combinations for the top order, while also emphasizing Gill's status as a top-tier player.
India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 and the New Zealand T20I series includes: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, and Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper).