Ishan Kishan was slotted at No. 3 for India's first T20I against New Zealand in Nagpur, filling in for the injured Tilak Varma ahead of the T20 World Cup
2026.
His inclusion in the World Cup squad stems from consistent domestic performances, including leading Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in 2025. Captain Suryakumar Yadav backed the move in the pre-match press conference.
Kishan earned his T20 World Cup spot as backup wicketkeeper-batter, replacing Shubman Gill to maintain team balance. After a 1.5-year absence from T20Is since November 2023, his domestic form convinced selectors. The IND vs NZ series provides crucial game time before the February 2026 tournament.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed the new role for the Jharkhand captain in the T20I series against the Blackcaps.
"Ishan will bat at No. 3 since he is part of our World Cup team, and we selected him first. It's his responsibility and opportunity to play, especially since he hasn't been active with the Indian team for quite some time," he said.
"He has performed well in domestic cricket, and given that we've included him in the World Cup squad, I believe he deserves this chance," he added.
How did Ishan Kishan perform in 1st T20I vs NZ?
In the first match in Nagpur on Wednesday, Ishan Kishan failed to live up to the billing. The southpaw came to bat at no. 3 in the 2nd over after Sanju Samson's dismissal, but lasted only five deliveries. Kishan hit two boundaries in his brief stay and was looking good, but departed soon after scoring just 8 runs, all coming from his two fours.
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