How Ishan Kishan Leaps Jaiswal, Tilak in World Cup Race

Ishan Kishan's resurgence in white-ball cricket has been nothing short of spectacular. After being sidelined early in 2024 due to disciplinary issues, he stormed back by leading Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title with 517 runs at a stunning strike rate. This earned him a T20I recall and a spot in the T20 World Cup-winning squad.

Now in 2026, Kishan has been India's most prolific white-ball batter, amassing 691 runs across ODIs and T20Is at a strike rate of 193.01, including two centuries and four fifties. His ability to perform consistently has put him firmly in contention for the 2027 World Cup, especially given India's preference for left-handed batsmen.

In contrast, Yashasvi Jaiswal has managed only 28 runs in two international innings this year, while Tilak Varma has scored 207 runs at 154.47. Kishan's superior recent output has pushed him ahead of both players in the ODI hierarchy, making him a potential favorite for head coach Gautam Gambhir's plans.