Nagpur, Jan 20 (UNI) India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav on Tuesday indicated that Ishan Kishan will be preferred over Shreyas Iyer for the No. 3 batting position in the upcoming T20 International against New Zealand, citing team balance and future planning.
Addressing a pre-match press conference ahead of the first T20I in Nagpur, Suryakumar said Ishan Kishan is very much part of India’s T20 World Cup plans and therefore deserves consistent opportunities.
He noted that although Kishan has not played international cricket for the past one and a half years, his performances in domestic cricket during this period have been impressive.
With Tilak Varma ruled out due to injury, a vacancy has opened up in India’s top order.
Suryakumar explained that Kishan is a like-for-like replacement, being a left-handed batter similar to Tilak, making him a suitable option at No. 3.
He added that Kishan’s prior inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad further strengthens his case for the role.
The Indian skipper clarified that the situation could have been different had the slot been at No. 4 or No. 5, but given the current team combination and Tilak’s absence, Kishan is the preferred choice.
Kishan last featured in a T20 International for India against Australia on November 28, 2023.
After a prolonged absence from the national side, his consistent domestic form has helped him earn a recall.
The New Zealand series is India’s final T20 assignment before the T20 World Cup, making it a crucial opportunity for Kishan to cement his place in the squad.
Suryakumar also addressed questions about his own form, admitting he has not been at his best recently but downplayed any concerns.
He stressed that cricket is a team game and that his primary focus is on leading the side effectively.
According to him, collective performances will be key to achieving positive results rather than individual milestones.
