India captain Suryakumar Yadav has confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will make his much-anticipated return to international cricket in the first T20I against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 21. Kishan is set to bat at No. 3 in the series opener, which will be played in Raipur, marking his first T20I appearance for India in over a year.
Kishan last featured for India in the shortest format against Australia on November 28, 2023. Since then, the 27-year-old found himself on the sidelines, slipping out of the national setup amid stiff competition. However, the left-hander has forced his way back into contention with a stunning run of form in domestic cricket, leaving the selectors with little choice but to take notice.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav underlined that Kishan’s inclusion was both well-timed and well-earned, especially with Tilak Varma ruled out of the first three matches of the series.
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“Yes, Ishan will play at No. 3. He’s part of our World Cup plans, and we’ve picked him in the squad for a reason. He hasn’t played for India for a long time, but he’s been performing consistently in domestic cricket and deserves this opportunity,” Suryakumar Yadav said.
The Indian skipper added that the team combination made Kishan the most natural fit at No. 3. “If it was about No. 4 or No. 5, things might have been different. But with Tilak unavailable, Ishan is the best option for that position,” he explained.
Kishan’s domestic numbers strongly back that call. He was the driving force behind Jharkhand’s historic maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, amassing 517 runs in 10 innings at an outstanding average of 57.44 and a strike rate north of 197. His crowning moment came in the final against Haryana, where he blasted a breathtaking 101 off just 49 balls, leading Jharkhand to a mammoth 262/3 and earning the Player of the Match award in a dominant 69-run victory.
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That red-hot form carried into the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well, highlighted by a stunning 33-ball century against Karnataka. Those performances ultimately convinced the selectors to back Kishan ahead of Shubman Gill for the 2026 T20 World Cup plans, making his comeback on Wednesday a significant moment in India’s evolving T20 setup.
