Big news dropped from the Indian captain’s press meet today! Ishan Kishan bats at number 3 for the opening three T20Is. Shreyas Iyer joined the squad too, but Kishan gets first preference here.
Tilak Varma’s injury created this opening in the batting lineup. The IND vs NZ T20I series needed someone ready to step in immediately. Management went with Kishan based on what he’s done lately in domestic cricket.
In SMAT, Ishan Kishan went absolutely berserk during those matches. He scored 517 runs in 10 games with crazy consistency. Two centuries, two fifties, and a title-winning knock in the final too!
Why Ishan Kishan Got the Nod
Suryakumar explained the decision pretty clearly in his press conference. The captain wants to give him match practice before the big tournament.
“Ishan will play third [No. 3]. Because [he’s] in our World Cup team, we have picked him first. So, it’s his responsibility and he has to play. He has been doing well in domestic cricket. He hasn’t played for the Indian team for 1-1.5 years. We have picked him in the World Cup team and he deserves to play,” Surya said.
Ishan Kishan hasn’t played for India since November 2023 against Australia. That’s over a year away from international cricket now. Getting back into rhythm needs actual game time, not just practice sessions.
His domestic form convinced selectors he deserves this IND vs NZ T20I chance. Suryakumar mentioned Kishan has earned his spot fair and square. “He deserves to play,” the skipper added confidently.
Suryakumar’s Own Form Struggles
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room now. Suryakumar’s bat has gone pretty quiet over his last 22 innings. Just 244 runs total – that’s barely 12.84 average. His best score reached only 47 during this rough stretch.
The skipper isn’t hitting the panic button yet though. “I have been batting really well in the nets,” he told reporters. Suryakumar refuses to mess with his naturally attacking game despite these low scores.
He brought up his past record to provide some perspective. Over 2544 runs scored across the previous few years speaks volumes. “I’m out of runs, not out of form,” Suryakumar said with confidence. Team victories matter way more than his personal scorecard right now anyway.
The IND vs NZ T20I series could turn things around for both these left-handers!
