Ishan Kishan Comeback: From Domestic Cricket to T20 World Cup Squad

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Ishan Kishan Comeback: From Domestic Cricket to T20 World Cup Squad: In the world of cricket, it's often said that no matter how dark the night, the sun will always rise the next day. This adage perfectly describes the recent circumstances of Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan. Saturday was a special day for Ishan, who had been waiting for a return to the Indian team for the past two years, as he was included in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 and the T20 series against New Zealand.

His outstanding performance in domestic cricket, particularly leading Jharkhand to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), caught the attention of the selectors, and his hard work finally paid off.

Ishan Kishan's return to the team after two years

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Ishan Kishan's return to the T20 international team comes after a long gap of almost two years. He last played a T20 match against Australia in November 2023. Despite being selected for the South Africa tour afterward, he returned home citing personal reasons.

Following this incident, he was dropped from the team due to the controversy surrounding his preference for the Indian Premier League (IPL) over domestic cricket. During this time, he received a clear message from the national selectors and team management that playing domestic cricket was mandatory.

Ishan Kishan's strong performance in domestic cricket

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During his time away from the team, Ishan worked on his fitness and game. He heeded the selectors' advice and returned to domestic cricket. Playing for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he made significant contributions with the bat.

In the recent edition of the SMAT, Ishan not only captained his team Jharkhand but also consistently performed with the bat, leading them to the tournament title.

His performance impressed the selectors, and he earned a place back in the national team.

Ishan Kishan leads Jharkhand to their first SMAT title

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Ishan Kishan recently led Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title. Under his captaincy, the team won the SMAT title for the first time. Jharkhand faced Haryana in the final match.In the match played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, the 27-year-old batsman scored 101 runs off 49 balls, including six fours and 10 sixes. His captain's innings laid the foundation for Jharkhand's victory. The bowlers then maintained the pressure and bowled out Haryana for 193 runs, securing a 69-run win.

Indian Squad for T20I World Cup 2026

• Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
• Vice-Captain: Axar Patel
• Batsmen: Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh
• Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson
• All-rounder: Washington Sundar
• Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana

New Hopes in the T20 World Cup 2026

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Now, returning to the Indian jersey once again, Ishan Kishan has high expectations placed upon him. In the T20 format, he is known for his aggressive batting and wicket-keeping abilities. His return to the team will strengthen the lower order and provide an additional wicket-keeping option.

Ishan now has the opportunity to prove that he deserves to be a permanent and reliable member of the Indian team, and that he has left that dark period of controversies behind him.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant to Lead Delhi in Vijay Hazare Trophy, Virat Kohli Named in Squad

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