Suryakumar Yadav Reveals Why Ishan Kishan Was Picked Over Jitesh Sharma For T20 WC

Ishan was picked over Jitesh in India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad, and he lived up to the billing by scoring 317 runs in nine matches for the world No. 1 T20I team.

Ishan Kishan wasn’t part of the Indian team for more than two years, but due to his super show with the bat in the 2025 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand, the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was picked over Jitesh Sharma in India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January 2026 as well as for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The decision to include Ishan over Jitesh, who was part of India’s Asia Cup-winning team last year, came as a surprise, but according to India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, the decision to pick Ishan was on his gut feeling.

In a recent interview with news agency PTI, Surya stated that he was sad when India had to pick Ishan over Jitesh, but the decision was taken, keeping Ishan’s abilities and what he brings to the team in mind.

“It (Ishan’s selection) was completely on gut and a little bit on data as well because it was very harsh on Jitesh Sharma at that time because he was with the team for the last 1-1.5 years and he was playing as well. It’s not like he was not playing. If he was not playing, the story would have been different. I was very sad when we had to pick Ishan over Jitesh. But then if we had to bring some firepower in the top, if we had to do the openers left-right or if we had to pick the top two wicketkeepers, someone had to miss out," Surya said.

“So, I just called him (Ishan) and asked, ‘Chotu World Cup jitayega? (Will you win the World Cup?), so he just told me, ‘Bass bharosa kar ke dekhiye (just trust me).’ I said, ‘Chal kiya bharosa’ (okay, I trust you), and the way he played – it was amazing," he added.

According to Surya, he knew Ishan would bring an X-factor to the team, and he lived up to the expectations from the New Zealand series itself.

“I mean, the way he started from the bilaterals (five-match T20I series against New Zealand), I always knew that he was bringing an X-factor to the side because he had no baggage. When he went out of the team 1-1.5 years ago, he went back home; I think he must have sat, analysed what had happened to him, and gone on to play domestic cricket. He told me his entire journey, where all he went to play; he played practice matches in every corner of India. And then the way he played domestic cricket, he performed in the IPL; I think he deserved that spot completely," Surya said.

Click here to read article