Ishan Kishan’s return to the Indian team surprised many cricket fans earlier this year. After being out of the national setup for more than two years, the 27 years old wicketkeeper-batter suddenly found himself back in the squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January 2026 and later for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The comeback was largely driven by his outstanding performance in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he delivered a brilliant run with the bat while playing for Jharkhand. His consistent performances caught the selectors’ attention and helped him earn another opportunity at the international level.
However, his inclusion came at a cost. Ishan Kishan was picked ahead of Jitesh Sharma, who had been part of India’s Asia Cup-winning squad the previous year and had spent over a year around the national team. The decision surprised many observers, as Jitesh Sharma had been regularly involved with the squad and had been performing whenever given a chance.
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has now revealed that Ishan Kishan’s selection was based largely on instinct, along with some data analysis.
Speaking in an interview, Suryakumar admitted that leaving out Jitesh Sharma was not an easy call. He explained that Jitesh had been with the team for a long time and had contributed whenever he played. Because of that, the decision to replace him with Ishan Kishan was emotionally difficult.
According to SKY, the team management was looking for more attacking options at the top of the batting order. They also considered the possibility of having a left-right opening combination and selecting two wicketkeeping options in the squad. In such situations, someone inevitably had to miss out.
Despite the tough choice, Suryakumar said he believed Ishan Kishan could bring something different to the team. Before finalising the decision, the captain even spoke to Ishan Kishan personally. During their conversation, SKY asked if he was ready to help the team win the World Cup. Ishan Kishan responded with confidence and asked for trust in return. That response strengthened the captain’s belief in him.
Suryakumar Yadav explained that he always felt Ishan Kishan had a special “X-factor”. After being dropped from the national team about a year and a half earlier, Ishan Kishan had returned to domestic cricket with determination. Instead of stepping away from the game, he travelled across the country, played practice matches and worked on improving his form.
The wicketkeeper-batter also shared details of that journey with the captain, explaining how he spent time analysing his setbacks and rebuilding his game. His performances in domestic tournaments and later in the Indian Premier League (IPL) further proved his readiness for another chance.
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According to Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan quickly justified that faith. From the T20I series against New Zealand itself, the aggressive batter showed the impact he could make at the international level.
For the Indian T20 captain, Ishan Kishan’s comeback story was proof that hard work, self-belief and a second chance can sometimes change everything in cricket.
