“I Wanted to Open,” Says Ishan Kishan After Smashing 20-Ball Fifty Ahead of T20 World Cup

Team India appears fully prepared for the T20 World Cup 2026, and opener Ishan Kishan has made a bold statement ahead of the tournament. In the warm-up match against South Africa, Kishan delivered a sensational performance at the top of the order, not only guiding India to victory but also staking a strong claim for the opening slot in the main tournament.

Explosive 20-Ball Fifty
In the match held at DY Patil Stadium, India posted a massive 241/5 batting first. South Africa could only manage 210/7 in response, giving India a 30-run win. Ishan Kishan stood out with a blistering 53-run innings off just 20 balls, featuring 7 towering sixes and 2 boundaries. Opening alongside Abhishek Sharma, Kishan took full advantage of the powerplay, providing India the aggressive start the team management was seeking.

Ishan Opens Up on Opening
After the match, Kishan revealed that opening is his preferred role and that he was excited to take on the responsibility. While emphasizing team balance, he noted that he is ready to bat at any position, but his confidence and level of play are at their peak when opening. He also praised the pitch for its bounce and pace, which allowed him to play freely and express his attacking game.

Suryakumar Yadav’s New Opening Strategy
Captain Suryakumar Yadav had signaled a fresh approach right from the toss, sending Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma to open. This move indicates that Sanju Samson may bat lower down the order in the World Cup or may have to fight for a place in the playing XI. The experiment paid off, yielding the desired outcome for India.

Tilak Verma’s Comeback
Apart from Kishan’s explosive innings, he also praised the returning Tilak Verma for his multi-dimensional skills, contributing both with the bat and useful off-spin bowling. India continued to experiment with their bowling, using nine bowlers in total. Abhishek Sharma also impressed with the ball, taking 2 wickets after his opening innings, giving further confidence to the team management.

With this dominant display, Ishan Kishan has firmly positioned himself as a potential opener for India in the T20 World Cup 2026.