“Can I Make a Comeback or Not?” – Ishan Kishan Opens Up After Thrashing New Zealand

India defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets in the second T20 match of the five-match series held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur on January 23, 2026. With this victory, India took a 2-0 lead in the series.

Chasing a target of 210 set by New Zealand, India achieved the target in just 15.2 overs, losing only three wickets. Ishan Kishan played a sensational innings for India, scoring 76 runs off just 32 balls at a strike rate of 237.50, including 11 boundaries and 2 sixes. His brilliant performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

Speaking after the match, Kishan opened up about his long-awaited return to the national side. He had been dropped from the team for a significant period and had been focusing on domestic cricket to regain form.

“I was just concentrating on scoring runs in domestic cricket. Sometimes, it’s important to do it for yourself—to answer your own questions about how you are batting and whether you are capable of playing for India,” Kishan said.

He continued, “That’s why playing domestic cricket and scoring runs was crucial for me. The good thing is we won the trophy, and I brought that confidence here. So it was a very good day for me.”

Reflecting on his comeback, Kishan added, “I asked myself one question: Can I make a comeback again or not? My answer was clear. I realized that I could bat through the innings and play some good shots. I needed runs somewhere to answer these questions about myself. Even if I got out, I just wanted to play good cricket.”

Kishan’s stellar performance not only helped India secure a commanding win but also marked a confident return to international cricket, signaling that the young batsman is ready to reclaim his spot in the team.