Ishan Kishan stands out as the only player selected for the T20 World Cup 2026 who hasn’t played a single T20I match during this World Cup cycle for India. His last game was back in December 2023, and now he’s part of the 15-man squad as India aims to be the first team to defend a T20 World Cup title. The BCCI selection committee shifted gears after deciding to drop Shubman Gill. They had given him plenty of chances as vice-captain, but he just couldn’t deliver. As a result, India has opted for a reliable opening duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, both expected to kick off the innings for India in T20Is at this major event. However, Ishan Kishan could complicate things, as he’s also a viable opening option and serves as the second-choice wicketkeeper. According to Kishan’s childhood coach and mentor, Uttam Mazumdar, Kishan is definitely a strong candidate for the first playing XI, and his ideal position to bat is clearly at the top of the order. “The team management will decide the playing XI, but I think Ishan will be most effective in the powerplay with Abhishek Sharma. Yes, he can bat in the middle order, but he has been opening in the IPL for years and showed his destructive power-hitting in the SMAT,” said Mazumdar while speaking to Telecom Asia Sport. Also Read | Watch: Travis Head’s Cheeky Gesture Sparks 'Ball-Tampering' Jokes at Gabba Explosive domestic form reignited Kishan’s T20 World Cup 2026 hopes Kishan’s big moment with the Indian team came after he absolutely shone at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). He really made a name for himself and earned a spot in the T20 World Cup squad. Not only did Kishan lead Jharkhand to their first-ever SMAT title with an unbeaten record, but he also became the top scorer with 517 runs, including a whopping 33 sixes (the highest in the tournament) and an impressive strike rate of 197.32. This stellar performance, combined with Shubman Gill's struggles as an opener in T20Is, has led to Kishan's unexpected selection. While it's clear that Samson will kick off the five-match T20I series against New Zealand alongside Abhishek Sharma, Kishan will definitely be right on his heels. In response to his selection, Kishan smashed a record-breaking 33-ball century for Jharkhand on the opening day of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a 50-over domestic tournament.