What is different about Ishan Kishan 2.0 in T20I Cricket?

Ishan Kishan was left out of Team India and also was snubbed from BCCI’s central contract.

Team India scripted yet another victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 with opener Ishan Kishan being the star performer. The left-hander provided his team with a blistering start, amassing 77 of just 40 balls with 10 boundaries and 3 maximums.

Ishan Kishan is currently placed second on the top scorers list of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 with 158 runs in three innings at a marvellous strike rate of 197.50. He is also joint top for the most sixes in the current T20 World Cup. Ever since he has made his comeback in the Indian T20I side, he has looked a class apart with him scoring runs consistently.

His red-hot form even saw Sanju Samson, who was the first-choice opener, getting benched. Now with Kishan doing wonders, the question arises- what has changed for the wicket-keeper batter from Jharkhand, who was nowhere near to the Team India set up just months ago?

Ishan Kishan 2.0- what separates this version from just the free-flowing youngster of the past

Not too long ago, many wondered where Ishan Kishan’s international career was heading – despite being a naturally gifted cricketer, he faced prolonged periods without national selection and was even dropped from the BCCI’s central contracts. But instead of giving up in frustration, he chose a different path: work harder, stay humble, and let his performances speak louder than criticism.

The biggest positive that is seen in Ishan Kishan’s is improvement in his off-side play. Kishan has always been good with his onside because of his crease setup and bat-swing. In the early part of his career, the bowlers found it easy to restrict Kishan bowling outside his arch. Now, Kishan has visibly improved his off-side game becoming a big headache for the opposition.

Kishan, in the post-match interview against Pakistan, spoke on this aspect of his game. He said his improved range helped to create more scoring opportunities.

“I did a lot of work on my off-side game. It will give me the balls where I want them ( opposition bowlers) to bowl if I play good shots on the off side,” Kishan said.

Along with his improved off side play, what has changed is his self-belief. Kishan openly admitted that being left out hurt him, but he refused to let that setback define him. He doubled down on his craft and focused on dominating domestic cricket — scoring runs, leading Jharkhand to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, getting his mojo and confidence back.

Digging into Ishan Kishan’s aggressive play

Another aspect that aligns with Kishan has been Team India’s clarity of approach in the batting. The former Under-19 captain has always been known for his aggressive batting style. Team India’s aggressive batting approach in recent times has given the perfect platform for Kishan to unleash himself with any second thought.

Along with the aggression, what’s impressive about Kishan has been his shot selection. It was also visible in his innings against Pakistan. Front foot, back foot, laps, skipping down the wicket- Kishan read the lengths well and treated the ball with proper shot selection.

Kishan’s return isn’t just about cricket; it’s a strong reminder that when doors close, the only way to move forward is to work hard, be strong, and believe in yourself.

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