We want Ishan to be a game-changer: Suryakumar Yadav

After scoring a brilliant maiden T20I hundred, Ishan Kishan came on to the field wearing his wicketkeeping gloves. Sanju Samson, so woefully out of form, had kept wicket in all the four games in the series against New Zealand.

But Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav clarified that not much should be read into it. “Both the keepers were playing since the first game as Tilak Varma was not available,” the captain said shortly after leading his side to a 4-1 series win. “So, we had decided before the series that Sanju would keep in three games and Ishan in two. But Ishan missed the last game with a niggle, but he was always going to be the keeper today.”

The captain talked about Kishan’s astonishing 43-ball 103, too. “We always knew what Ishan brings to the table,” Suryakumar said. “We have seen how he played in domestic cricket just before this series. We always wanted him to bat the same way, not change his identity. There, he was opening, here he batted at No. 3. We wanted him to be a game-changer and he has given a strong statement.”

He said he enjoyed batting with Ishan and Abhishek Sharma right through the series. “Both of them completely take the opposition out of the game,” he said. “And the pressure is very less on the middle order and the finishers to come.”

Suryakumar said it was nice to be back amongst the runs once again. “It is always good to get runs when you are leading a side and you want to lead by example,” he said. “In 2025, it was the same Surya, this is also the same Surya, it was just a lack of runs.”

He said Tilak and Washington Sundar were doing well. “We spoke to both of them yesterday,” he said. “Tilak is much better. Washi has almost started his bowling and batting.”