Ishan Kishan opens up about hidden pain behind T20 World Cup 2026 victory

The life of cricketers is not easy either, and many times they have to prioritize the team's interest over their family. We have seen examples of this many times, and something similar was seen in the T20 World Cup 2026. After India’s title win in Ahmedabad, Ishan Kishan emotionally revealed that his cousin sister had passed away in a car accident before the final. At that time, he was very upset, but Hardik Pandya comforted him. Ishan also dedicated the title win to her.

Ishan Kishan revealed that when he came to know about this incident, he was very upset and wanted to go home. However, then Hardik Pandya encouraged him, and after that, he decided to play the final for his sister. During the match, Ishan did not show at all that he was going through so much pain inside. He contributed with his batting first and then also took amazing catches in the field.

See Also: “He Helped Me Develop”: Sanju Samson credits Sachin Tendulkar after winning Player of the Tournament award in T20 World Cup 2026

"To be honest, before the game, I lost my cousin sister yesterday in a car accident. I played well for her. I spoke to Hardik bhai, he said to put the team ahead. I dedicate this win to her, and today is Women's Day, so it makes it all the more special," Ishan said during the post-match press conference.

A dream comeback for Ishan Kishan

The past two to three years have been turbulent for Ishan Kishan. At one point, it seemed the wicketkeeper-batter might struggle to return to the Indian team. Toward the end of 2023, Kishan took a break from the South Africa tour, citing mental fatigue, after which things became difficult for him. Reports of him partying surfaced, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later excluded him from the central contract list. His struggles continued during iPL 2024, where he failed to make a significant impact.

However, Kishan did not give up and instead focused on improving his fitness while returning to domestic cricket to rebuild his career. The left-handed batter began scoring heavily across tournaments and regained his confidence with consistent performances. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored more than 500 runs and captained Jharkhand to the title. He followed it up with another century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which once again put him in the spotlight for national selection.

Impressed by his consistent form, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, included him in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 as well as the T20I series against New Zealand. Kishan made the most of the opportunity, scoring 215 runs against New Zealand at an average of 53.75, including one century and one half-century. He carried that momentum into the World Cup as well, finishing with 317 runs in the tournament, highlighted by a crucial 54-run knock in the final.