Ishan Kishan Takes the Helm as Jharkhand Captain for Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26
Ishan Kishan Appointed Captain of Jharkhand
Ranchi: Ishan Kishan, the wicketkeeper-batter for India, has been appointed as the captain of Jharkhand for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite (VHT) 2025/26, as confirmed by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA). The tournament is set to kick off on December 24, with Jharkhand facing Karnataka in their opening match in Ahmedabad.
The announced squad blends seasoned players with emerging talent, featuring Kumar Kushagra, Anukul Roy, Robin Minz, Abhinav Sharan, and Virat Singh, as Jharkhand aims to capitalize on their recent achievements in white-ball cricket.
Kishan's leadership comes after an impressive performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26, where he guided Jharkhand to their first SMAT title. He excelled throughout the tournament, scoring 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44, including two centuries and two fifties. His standout moment was a powerful 101 in the final against Haryana, securing the championship for his team.
His remarkable form has also led to his selection for the Indian squad in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where he will serve as the second-choice wicketkeeper-batter behind Sanju Samson, marking his return to the national team following a series of strong domestic performances.
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar commented on Kishan's inclusion, stating, “He bats at the top in white-ball cricket. He’s been in good form. He’s played before for India. He has a double hundred in one-day cricket. He wasn’t in the Indian team because there’s a Rishabh Pant and a Dhruv Jurel ahead. They’re two pretty good players.”
Jharkhand Squad For Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26:
Ishan Kishan (WK and captain), Virat Singh, Utkarsh Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK and vice-captain), Robin Minz, Anukul Roy, Sharandeep Singh, Shikhar Mohan, Pankaj Kumar (WK), Bala Krishna, Md Kounain Quraishi, Shubh Sharma, Amit Kumar, Manishi, Abhinav Sharan, Sushant Mishra, Vikash Singh, Saurabh Shekhar, Rajandeep Singh, Shubham Singh.