Ishan Kishan is all set to return to action for India after over two years. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed the wicket-keeper batter will be part of India’s playing XI in the first T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. Kishan will bat at no.3 for India in the absence of injured Tilak Varma.
Kishan, who earned his spot back in India’s T20I squad after his stellar show for champions Jharkhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year, will be making his comeback to international cricket after 785 days. He last played for India in a T20I against Australia in November 2023.
Kishan, who opted for a mental break at the time, was subsequently dropped from the Indian setup and also left out of BCCI’s central contracts, along with current ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, for not prioritising domestic cricket. The swashbuckling left-hander forced his way back into the Indian team with his consistent performances in the domestic circuit.
India have roped in Shreyas Iyer in the T20I squad as a replacement for Tilak, who is recovering from testicular torsion. However, speaking at the pre-match presser on Tuesday, skipper Suryakumar confirmed the team management has decided Kishan will bat at no.3 for India in the 1st T20I against the Kiwis.
“Yes, Ishan will play at No.3. He’s part of our World Cup plans, and we’ve picked him in the squad. He hasn’t played for India for a long time, but he’s been doing well in domestic cricket. He hasn’t played for India for about a year or more, so he deserves this opportunity,” said Suryakumar at the presser.
“If it was about No.4 or No.5, the situation might have been different. But unfortunately, Tilak isn’t available, and I think Ishan is the best option at No.3,” he added.
The decision is a sensible one from the Indian team management as Kishan is also part of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad along with Tilak, who is expected to recover in time for the showpiece event. Kishan has not played for India for a long time and needs regular game time before the World Cup.
