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India will announce their World Cup squad on Saturday, December 20 in Mumbai, with the chosen group also expected to be retained for the five-match home T20I series against New Zealand starting January 21. While most of the squad is believed to be settled, a few selection calls remain open and could prompt discussion. Ishan Kishan is one such player who led Jharkhand to a SMAT Trophy and has been breaking down the door. With the World Cup just over a month away, the emphasis is likely to be on continuity and role clarity. However, recent performances both international and domestic must be taken into account as we get closer to the main event.
Since his return to T20Is against South Africa, Gill managed just 32 runs across three matches, with scores of 4, 0 and 28, averaging 10.66 at a strike-rate of 103.22. Even across this year, Gill’s T20I numbers in 2025 have been modest. He has scored 291 runs in 15 matches at an average of 24.25 and a strike-rate of 137.26, figures that sit below expectations in a format driven by aggressive starts.
Kishan has scored two centuries while opening the batting for Jharkhand. A ton in the final and a 50-ball unbeaten 113 against Tripura last month. Kishan also equalled Abhishek Sharma’s record for most centuries in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by raising his fifth hundred in the tournament. He became only the second batter ever to hit a ton in a SMAT final which makes his case for a comeback to the Indian team more likely.
Ishan Kishan scores in SMAT 2025
- 27(24) vs Delhi
- 15(7) vs Karnataka
- 113*(50) vs Tripura
- 93(50) vs Saurashtra
- 21(7) vs Uttarakhand
- 2(4) vs Tamil Nadu
- 47(23) vs Punjab
- 63(30) vs Madhya Pradesh
- 35(18) vs Andhra
- 101(49) vs Haryana in Final
Ishan Kishan has been in great form in the SMAT and leads the run charts with 517 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 197.32. Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson both have not been able to nail a spot for the wicket-keeper and Kishan could even be an option to replace either one of them. So either as an opener or wicket-keeper there is a high chance Kishan can make a comeback to the Indian T20I team.
