Ishan Kishan's Stellar SMAT Performance Secures T20 World Cup Spot

Ishan Kishan Shines in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

In Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Ishan Kishan's coach, Uttam Majumdar, expressed that Kishan's remarkable display in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) was pivotal in earning him a place in the Indian T20 World Cup squad. Kishan played a crucial role in leading Jharkhand to their inaugural title in the tournament.

During the 2025/26 SMAT season, Kishan excelled, amassing 517 runs across 10 innings with an impressive average of 57.44. His performance included two centuries and two half-centuries, notably scoring a century in the final against Haryana, with a strike rate exceeding 197.

Majumdar remarked, "His outstanding performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was hard for the selectors to overlook." He added, "I view this positively. His performance was exceptional. I always encouraged him, emphasizing that performance is key, even during the two years he faced challenges in the Indian team."

The upcoming T20 World Cup will see Suryakumar Yadav captaining a 15-member squad. Shubman Gill has been dropped due to concerns regarding his fitness and form, while Axar Patel returns as vice-captain.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad at their headquarters, with captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar present. The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 and the T20I series against New Zealand 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).