Team India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan is set to make his much-awaited return to international cricket in the first T20I against New Zealand in Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. The left-handed batter last played a T20I during the home series against Australia in December 2023.

The Jharkhand-based batter has also named in India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He has been chosen to bat at No. 3 ahead of Shreyas Iyer, as Tilak Varma is currently injured. Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed this decision before the match.

“Ishan will bat at No. 3. Since he is part of our World Cup team, we have picked him first. It is his responsibility to perform. He has done well in domestic cricket. He has not played for the Indian team for the last 1 to 1.5 years, but he deserves this chance,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the pre-match press conference, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

With that in mind, let us look at three reasons why playing Ishan Kishan at No. 3 may not be the right decision for the India vs New Zealand 2026 T20I series.

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1. Underwhelming numbers at No. 3 in T20Is and IPL

Due to strong competition for opening spots, Ishan Kishan has often batted at No. 3 in white-ball cricket. On paper, a left-handed batter at No. 3 helps team balance. Many players like Tilak Varma, Dawid Malan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Rachin Ravindra have done well in this role.

However, Ishan Kishan’s numbers at No. 3 are not very strong. In the IPL, he has batted at No. 3 in 22 innings. He scored 532 runs at an average of 26.60 and a strike rate of 137.82. These numbers are lower than his record as an opener.

In T20Is, he has batted at No. 3 four times. He scored 114 runs at an average of 28.50 and a strike rate of 134.12. While he has two half-centuries, he also has two low scores, including a duck.

In comparison, Tilak Varma averages 60.33 at No. 3 in T20Is and 32.50 in the IPL. Shreyas Iyer averages 35.33 in T20Is and 33.41 in the IPL at the same position.

2. May face spin early in the innings

Ishan Kishan is an aggressive left-handed batter and generally does well against spinners. However, he performs better after getting settled. He usually gains confidence by facing fast bowlers during the powerplay before attacking spin.

At No. 3, his entry point is not fixed. He may come in during the end of the powerplay or in the middle overs, when spinners usually bowl. Starting an innings against spin is difficult, especially for a batter who prefers pace early on.

In his 22 IPL innings at No. 3, he was dismissed nine times by spinners. In six of those dismissals, he faced fewer than 20 balls.

Against New Zealand, he will face spinners like Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips. While he matches up well on paper, his record against Santner and Sodhi is not strong.

Against Santner, he has scored eight runs from 14 balls and got out once. Against Sodhi, he scored six runs from seven balls and was dismissed once.

Although his recent domestic record against spin is good, he needs to show the same performance at the international level.

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3. Early dismissals are a concern for a No. 3 batter

India’s recent No. 3 batters, such as Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma, have provided stability. They could adjust their game based on the situation and hold the innings together.

Ishan Kishan does not fully fit this role. His aggressive, high-risk style works better for openers, not for a No. 3 batter who may need to steady the innings.

In two of his four T20I innings at No. 3, he was dismissed within five balls. This left India at scores of 24 for 3 and 24 for 2. India can afford one early wicket, but losing two early wickets puts pressure on the team.

In the IPL as well, he was dismissed 15 times in 22 innings at No. 3 before facing 20 balls. This makes his role at No. 3 a risky option for the team.