One of the biggest stories in the past few months has been Ishan Kishan’s return to the Indian team. Considered a wild card for the T20 World Cup 2026 squad after his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy heroics, the Jharkhand wicketkeeper took his opportunity following Tilak Varma’s injury during the New Zealand T20I series – and there has been no looking back since.
In six matches, Kishan scored 296 runs at a staggering strike rate of 222.55, including a century and two fifties. But before those thrilling performances, there was an innings during the 2023 Asian Cup that went somewhat under the radar.
The venue was Pallekele. India and Pakistan were rocking and unlike some of the recent matches in this rivalry, the script was different. India moved to 66 for four in 15 overs, with Pakistan’s bowlers firmly on top.
Kishan, who has mostly batted at the top in ODIs, has walked in at No.5 to join Hardik Pandya in the middle. Smart, calculated batting followed as he leveled the innings with 82 off 81 balls. He put on a 138-run stand with Hardik to help India post 266. The match was eventually called off due to rain and played again the next day. India dominated the replay but Kishan’s earlier knock was a quiet hero’s innings.
Now fast forward to 2026. Kishan enters this phase with a clearly defined role — a destroyer at the top. His thinking, he says, has evolved.
“I think I’m a changed man now to be honest. I’m not into it much but I enjoy the jokes and everything. I do it but I used to do it 24×7 but now it’s just 2-3 hours. So I’m more focused on batting and keeping wickets which will help the team and which Kimishan will help me.”
While much of the attention will be given Abhishek Sharma’s fitness ahead of IND vs PAK clashKishan could well be India’s X-Factor – and for good reason.
SPIN MASTER
One of the key themes heading into the Colombo clash is Pakistan’s attack and how it could worry India. Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and the ever fascinating Usman Tariq can challenge any batting line-up on their day.
India’s struggles against spin were exposed in the first two games where Gerhard Erasmus – whose action resembles Tariq’s – took four wickets. India will need strong players at the top. Abhishek Sharma with a strike rate of over 210 against spin in T20 cricket will be crucial if he is fit. But it cannot be the work of one person.
This is where Kishan becomes a game changer. His improvement against the spin has been significant. While his career strike rate against spin stands at 155, it has soared to 244.18 in 2026. He smashed 10 boundaries and eight sixes off the spinners in just four innings.
To put that growth into perspective: his strike rate against spin was 169.23 in 2021, 140.83 in 2022 and just over 127 in 2023.
CLARITY AMONG THE CHAOS
India’s T20 batting approach was reminiscent of a heavy metal concert – exciting when it clicks, but capable of unraveling quickly.
We got a glimpse of this during the USA match where Kishan tried to attack everything and ended up playing too many fake shots. However, he showed maturity against Namibia. Realizing that the surface was not a level deck, he began cautiously before shifting into gear. The result was a blistering 61 off 24 balls, including four consecutive sixes from JJ Smit.
“I just try to be calm on the field and just try to guard the ball and play the shots that I’ve already had, but sometimes you get excited and play those shots when you’re playing international cricket. So I just try to cut out those moments in my life and just try to play my own shots that I’m good at and that’s on that particular wicket.”
“So I don’t do that much and I don’t think too much about batting or extra training but yeah, I just try to guard the ball and be calm in the wicket, two three dot balls, it shouldn’t be a difference either because I think the batsmen in our team have power, they all have the ability to hit at any time so it’s just a matter of two balls.”
Such clarity and composure could prove decisive at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
POWER-HITTING FOR MAX
Perhaps the most noticeable change in Kishan since his return has been the brute force with which he clears the ropes. There have been times this year where even a short-arm jab has comfortably crossed the line.
Numbers empower transformation. In six games, Kishan hit 29 fours and 23 sixes. The boundary tally is his second best in a calendar year, while the six is his highest.
There is a clear intent – Kishan wants to be the aggressor at the top and dictate the terms. These are exactly the ingredients required in a high-stakes India versus Pakistan contest.
And if history at Pallekele is any indication, Colombo could once again witness Ishan Kishan stepping up when it matters most.
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Published on:
February 15, 2026