India batter Ishan Kishan said he is not fully satisfied with his comeback in the New Zealand T20I series and is keeping his focus on the T20 World Cup 2026.
Kishan’s return reached a high point on Saturday, January 31, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, where he scored his maiden T20I century—103 off 43 balls, including six fours and ten sixes—helping India post 271/5 in 20 overs. India went on to win the match by 46 runs, with Kishan named Player of the Match.
Despite the remarkable performance, Kishan said his primary goal remains the World Cup. “It is satisfying, of course, but I still feel I am not there yet. I have done well and received these awards, but my main focus is on the World Cup. That is where the extra effort will be required,” he said during the post-match presentation.
Asked about going for big hits rather than pacing his innings for personal milestones, Kishan added, “Even if you are close to a milestone, it doesn’t really matter. If the ball is there to be hit, you have to go for it. You shouldn’t think about milestones, but focus on winning matches.”
Kishan’s comeback has been remarkable. After a slow start—scoring 8 off 5 balls in the first T20I—he bounced back with 76 off 32 in the second match to help India chase 209 in 15.2 overs. He finished the series with 215 runs in four innings at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate of 231.18.
With this performance, Kishan has strengthened his case to be a regular starter in India’s playing XI for the upcoming T20 World Cup. There is speculation he could even open alongside Abhishek Sharma, especially given Sanju Samson’s recent form struggles.
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