Why was Ishaan Kishan selected in place of Jitesh Sharma? Suryakumar Yadav answered this biggest question

When the team was selected for the T20 World Cup 2026, everyone was surprised to see Ishan Kishan’s name. Ishan Kishan, who was out of the team for almost two years, suddenly became part of the World Cup squad. Shubman Gill, who was the vice-captain until the previous series, was dropped and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma was also dropped from the team. Now, after winning the World Cup, captain Suryakumar Yadav himself has revealed the mystery of why Ishan Kishan was selected in the squad.

In a recent interview to PTI, captain Suryakumar Yadav said that he felt very sad when India had to pick Ishan instead of Jitesh, but the decision was taken keeping in mind Ishan’s potential and his potential in the team. Surya said, “It (Ishan’s selection) was purely based on gut feeling and little data, because at that time it was very bad for Jitesh Sharma, because he was with the team for the last 1-1.5 years and he was playing. It’s not that he wasn’t playing. If he wasn’t playing, it would have been a different story. I felt very bad when I had to choose Ishan instead of Jitesh.”

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According to Surya, he knew that Ishan would bring the X-factor to the team and he lived up to the expectations right from the New Zealand series. Surya said, “I mean, he started in the bilaterals (five-match T20 series against New Zealand), so I always knew he would bring the X-factor to the team because he didn’t have any baggage. 1-1.5 years ago when he was dropped from the team, he came back home. I think he sat down and thought about what happened to him and then started playing domestic cricket again. He told me his whole journey, where he went to play; Having played practice matches in all corners of India and then performing in domestic cricket and the IPL, I think he fully deserved that position.”

Captain Surya further explains, “We had to bring some strength to the top team. If we had to change the openers or if we had to pick the top two wicketkeepers, someone had to be dropped.” Before the selection, Surya calls Ishaan. About the call, Surya said, “I called him (Ishaan) and asked, ‘Will Chhoti win the World Cup?’ He said, ‘Trust me.’ I said, ‘Okay, trust me.’ And the way he played – it was amazing.”

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Two important changes were made to the team to improve the team. Shubman Gill was replaced by Ishan Kishan and Jitesh Sharma was replaced by Rinku Singh. Ishan’s inclusion made it easier for India to make him available as an opener and wicketkeeper. However, the series against New Zealand changed all that.

As Tilak Verma was unavailable in that series, Ishan Kishan played at number three. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson failed as an opener. Chosen as the backup opener and wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup, the player started the T20 World Cup as the chief wicketkeeper and opener. However, due to Abhishek Sharma’s lack of fitness, Sanju Samson returned once, but was later dropped. Later, with the presence of left-handed batsmen in the final eleven, Sanju was made to open the innings and never looked back.