When was the last time Ishan Kishan played for India in T20Is?

Ishan Kishan is back into the Indian setup after a while as he has been named in the Indian squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Ishan Kishan’s recall into the India setup comes on the back of a sensational Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 campaign in which he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, with 517 runs at a strike rate of 194, and smashed a match-winning century in the final to steer Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title.

That return to the national fold for the New Zealand series and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 marks Kishan’s first India call-up in roughly two years and is a reminder of the talent that made him a household name, he famously converted his maiden ODI century into a double hundred (210) against Bangladesh in December 2022, a record-breaking effort.

Kishan also brings proven big-match pedigree at franchise level: he won two Indian Premier League (IPL) titles with Mumbai Indians (MI) and has consistently posted eye-catching strike rates in the shortest format, making him a strong backup wicketkeeper option who can change games with the bat.

Whether he plays in the final XI remains an uncertainty, as Sanju Samson will definitely be ahead in the pecking order. However, Kishan should get an opportunity in the upcoming five-match T20 series against New Zealand, and will be hoping to cash in.

When was the last time Kishan played for India?

2023 proved to be a turbulent and defining year for Ishan Kishan. Riding the momentum of his historic ODI double century against Bangladesh in December 2022, he cemented his place across formats and was picked in India’s squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, even featuring in the opening match against Australia.

He also made his Test debut earlier that year during the West Indies tour, where he delivered steady performances behind the stumps and showed promise with the bat.

However, Kishan’s upward trajectory stalled midway through the year due to off-field issues. After being rested from international duty, he chose not to participate in domestic cricket, including the Ranji Trophy, citing mental fatigue.

This decision did not sit well with the team management and selectors, who have consistently stressed the importance of domestic cricket for national contention. As a result, Kishan was sidelined from the Indian setup on disciplinary and availability grounds, effectively losing his place across formats and falling out of selection conversations until his recent resurgence in domestic T20 cricket.

His last appearance came during Australia’s tour of India in the five match T20I series. Kishan made an immediate impact by scoring back to back half centuries in the first two games, but a duck in the third proved costly. He was swiftly replaced by Jitesh Sharma after that solitary failure, marking the end of his run in the Indian setup at the time.

Hence this unexpected recall gives him a chance to prove his mettle and consolidate himself as India’s go to wickekeeper option.

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