IND vs AFG T20I: Why is Ishan Kishan not playing India vs Afghanistan T20 series?

Ishan Kishan is one of most talented youngsters in the Indian T20I setup at the moment. The southpaw has been a regular in the Indian side in all three formats over the course of the last 12 months. Having made his International debut in March 2021, the 25-year-old has quickly become a prominent figure in the Indian squad.

Why is Ishan Kishan not playing India vs Afghanistan series?

Ishan Kishan had opted out of the red-ball leg of the South African tour owing to the mental workload. The left-handed batter has been left out from the squad to face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series, starting from January 11.

The likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned to the Indian T20I side after almost 15 months, as the World Cup is just around the corner. Ishan Kishan was an integral part of the team which defeated Australia by a score line of 4-1 a couple of months ago.

Ishan Kishan’s omission from the squad comes as a bit of surprise given his ability to bat in the top order, as well as the middle order. Yashasvi Jaiswal has grabbed his opportunities with both hands, which has more or less assured his position at the top of the order, alongside Rohit Sharma.

Ishan Kishan made a strong case for himself to bat at number three or four, after his performances in the series against Australia. However, Virat Kohli should reclaim the number three spot, with Tilak Varma batting at number four.

Ishan Kishan Last 10 T20I Innings