Recently, Ishan Kishan received some great news by getting his name into the T20I series against New Zealand at home, besides the T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka in the months of February and March. This came on the back of his terrific performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 in leading the Jharkhand side.

The Indian left-handed batter, who has smashed overall 5787 runs in 207 innings of the shortest format at an average of nearly 30 and a strike rate of 138.21 with the help of six centuries and 31 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 113 runs, drilled 517 runs in SMAT 2025/26 in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of 197.32 with the help of two fifties and as many centuries.

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Kishan is expected to be forwarded to the ODI squad for the home three-match series against the Blackcaps at the start of 2025. In 24 innings of the 50-over format, he clubbed 933 runs at an average of 42.40 and a strike rate of 102.19 with seven fifties and the best score of 210.

Ishan Kishan expected to play ODI series against New Zealand

Kishan featured in the opening round of the recently started Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26 with a fine knock of 125 runs against Karnataka in Ahmedabad. The southpaw nailed those runs in just 39 balls at a strike rate of 320.51 with the help of seven boundaries and 14 sixes.

Kishan’s last ODI came in the 2023 ODI World Cup against Afghanistan in Delhi before being dropped from the squad. He is expected to replace Rishabh Pant for the ODI series against the Kiwis, as the left-handed wicket-keeper batter can use his current form to get the best out of the series.

India’s next ODI series after the New Zealand matches will be against England away from home, after which they will play the Asia Cup. Kishan will now hope to continue the same form and be a regular member of the 50-over side.