T20 World Cup: Ishan Kishan Chosen Over Shubman Gill

By Aditya Nagar | March 11, 2026

India recently made news with its historic win at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs on March 8, 2026.

Where congratulatory messages flooded, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has applauded Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir and the selectors for choosing 27-year-old Ishan Kishan over Shubhman Gill.

Ishan truly kept that faith with his excellent performance, helping India win the World Cup 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Let us know further about what Harbhahan said about it.

Ishan Kishan's T20 World Cup Performance: Praise from Harbhajan Singh

According to Ishan Kishan’s latest news, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has applauded coach Gautam Gambhir and Indian selectors for putting faith in Ishan Kishan and finding him the best replacement for Shubhman Gill in the T20 World Cup squad.

Initially, Harbhajan found this decision controversial, but it later proved right with Ishan’s standout campaign in the match.

Kishan Becomes India’s Second-Highest Run-Scorer

After his powerful performance, Ishan Kishan became the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament.

The 27-year-old played an important role as a top-order batsman with Sanju Samson. His aggressive start paved the way for India to dominate the game and claim the title.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh stated that Gill’s exit from the game sparked debate early on.

However, after Kishan fulfilled the promise with his game prowess in domestic cricket, it seemed convincing. He scored 54 runs off 25 balls in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand.

Ishan Kishan's Comeback Was Needed: Harbhajan Singh

Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh praised Gambhir for selecting Ishan Kishan, noting that he was excellent in domestic cricket. According to him, Ishan’s comeback was needed for the best.

Additionally, Harbhajan also pointed out Kishan’s aggressive approach throughout the World Cup 2026. He played decisively, as expected by his team.

He carried the momentum further after Abhishek Sharma. There was not a single disappointing moment from his side.

Kishan faced every match with confidence, thanks to his fierce batting, and prioritised his team first. Batting in such style after comeback was indeed impressive, says Harbhajan.

Why Was Shubman Gill Not in the T20 World Cup 2026?

Now, the question that pops into the mind is what was the core reason for Gill's replacement? The answer lies in the performance of Gill and Kishan in different forms prior to the tournament.
Gill returned to India's T20 team for the Asia Cup in September 2025. He was made vice-captain to skipper and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
However, it was observed that Gill lacked consistency in his format, and the dip in his performance led to his exit from the 15-member squad, which was announced on December 20, 2025.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan was at his best in domestic cricket. The powerpuff batter from Jharkhand played an important role in helping his state team win the first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title.
Another major reason for his selection and replacement of Gill was his smashing century against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram in the final match of the five-match T20 series before the World Cup victory.

Ishan’s Performance in the T20 World Cup?

Smashing 54 off just 25 balls, Ishan helped India post a massive total of 255, leaving the Kiwis struggling to chase the target and losing in the final.
He is also credited for his valuable contribution as a fielder, grabbing the ball that resulted in the knockout of Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert.
By the end, Kishan had touched the target of the 300-run mark, joining Chase Master Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson.
These two were the only Indian batsmen to have scored 300+ runs in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about this topic

Harbhajan said Gautam Gambhir made the right decision by picking Ishan Kishan over Shubman Gill.

Kishan was in strong form in domestic cricket and fit well into the team’s aggressive T20 approach.

Kishan delivered important performances, including a quick half-century in the final.

Gill had returned to India’s T20I squad during the Asia Cup 2025 and was named vice-captain.

The team was captained by Suryakumar Yadav.