India’s wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has reacted to his comeback in the Indian team for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played in the sub-continent. India and Sri Lanka are the hosts of the tournament. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the strong team, with his deputy Shubman Gill failing to make the cut for the big tournament. Axar Patel is Suryakumar’s new deputy. Kishan is the second wicket-keeper and his selection has come on the back of Jharkhand’s success in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was the top run-getter in the domestic tournament.

Ishan Kishan spoke to ANI after his selection. “I am happy. I am happy for my domestic team, Jharkhand as we recently won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Troph. Everyone contributed,” he said.

Ishan, who captained the side to success in the T20 tournament, has returned to the side after a long absence. His last T20 for India came against Australia in 2023.

He accumulated 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44, including two hundreds and two half-centuries, including a ton in the final against Haryana.

The Indian team for the World Cup was revealed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Saturday, in the presence of captain Suryakumar Yadav, and the chief of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar.

Speaking at the press conference, Agarkar said Gill was omitted because India were looking at different combinations at the top of the order. The head of the selectors called Gill a champion player.

India’s squad for iCC T20 World Cup 2026 and New Zealand T20I series: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (wk).