In what is being hailed as one of the most resilient comebacks in modern Indian cricket, Ishan Kishan has officially been named in India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The announcement, made on Saturday, December 20, 2025, marks the end of a tumultuous two-year period that saw Kishan lose his central contract, his spot across formats, and his standing with the BCCI establishment.
The Turning Point: A Historic SMAT 2025 Campaign
Kishan didn’t just wait for a recall; he battered the door down with his willow during the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).
- The Captain’s Lead: Leading Jharkhand, Kishan guided the team to its maiden SMAT title on December 18, 2025, defeating Haryana in a record-breaking final.
- The Final Heroics: Kishan smashed a breathtaking 101 off 49 balls in the final, becoming the first captain ever to score a century in a SMAT summit clash.
- The Statistics: He finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 517 runs in 10 innings at a staggering strike rate of 197.32.
The Selection Logic: Why Now?
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that while Kishan was out of the side due to the rise of Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel, his current form and the team’s tactical shift made his inclusion inevitable.
| Key Selection Factor | Detail |
| The “Gill” Factor | Shubman Gill was omitted from the squad due to a combination of fitness issues and a dip in T20I form (291 runs in 15 innings in 2025). |
| Wicketkeeping Depth | With Sanju Samson as the primary choice, the selectors wanted an aggressive left-handed backup who could open or bat in the top three. |
| Recent Vetting | Kishan’s willingness to grind through the Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup, and India A tours proved his hunger for red and white-ball cricket. |
A Journey Through “Four Decembers”
Kishan’s career has been defined by dramatic Decembers:
- December 2022: Smashed the fastest ODI double century (210) against Bangladesh.
- December 2023: Stepped away from the South Africa tour citing mental health exhaustion, leading to a fallout with the BCCI over domestic cricket participation.
- December 2024: Faced the “central contract snub” and focused on domestic recovery and reading the Bhagavad Gita for mental clarity.
- December 2025: Captained Jharkhand to glory and secured his T20 World Cup 2026 spot.
India’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2026 & NZ Series
Captain: Suryakumar Yadav | Vice-Captain: Axar Patel
- Batters: Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh.
- All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar.
- Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan.
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.