Young cricketer Ishan Kishan has achieved a staggering feat after his blistering innings of 61 from just 24 deliveries against Namibia in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. In the process, Kishan has surpassed MS Dhoni's long-standing record from 2007, registering the new highest individual score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter in T20 World Cups.
Kishan's 61 has managed to go beyond Dhoni's 45 off 33 against South Africa way back in the inaugural edition
of the tournament. Dhoni is now second on the list, but he also features in the fifth spot for his 36 off 18 balls against Australia during the same edition. The third and fourth spots are taken by Rishabh Pant, who has scores of 42 off 31 and 39 off 30 in 2021 and 2024, respectively, both coming against Pakistan.
Naturally, Kishan has also become the first-ever Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a half-century for India in the history of T20 World Cup.
Highest Individual Scores by Indian Wicketkeeper-Batters in T20 World Cups
| Sr. No. | Player Name | Score | Balls Faced | Opponent | Year |
| 1 | Ishan Kishan | 61 | 24 | Namibia | 2026 |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | 45 | 33 | South Africa | 2007 |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant | 42 | 31 | Pakistan | 2024 |
| 4 | Rishabh Pant | 39 | 30 | Pakistan | 2021 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | 36 | 18 | Australia | 2007 |
Reflecting on his inspiring comeback to international cricket, Kishan revealed that earlier he used to be a lot less serious about cricket on the field, but the exile for a couple of years has transformed the cricketer not just in his skills but also in the way he prepares mentally. The Jharkhand cricketer believes that he is indeed a changed man now.
“I’m a changed man now. I don’t get into it too much. I do enjoy jokes and everything, I still do it. But earlier, I used to do it 24×7. Now, let’s say it’s only a few hours a day. More time and energy has been spent concentrating on my batting and wicketkeeping," the Patna-born said after the match.
Kishan has become India's preferred opener in the shortest format of the game, following his comeback into the side. He will be seen opening alongside Abhishek Sharma as India take on the arch-rivals Pakistan next for a mouthwatering Group A contest at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.
