Hes a match-winner: New Zealand great surprised over India ignoring Rishabh Pant for T20 World Cup
Rishabh Pant was ignored from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad, having fallen behind in the pecking order. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are the two wicket-keeper batters in India's squad for the showpiece event.
New Zealand great Ian Smith admitted he was left surprised by India's decision to leave out Rishabh Pant from their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Pant, who has fallen behind the likes of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan for India in T20Is, was part of the Men in Blue's title-winning squad under former skipper Rohit Sharma in the last edition of the tournament in 2024.
While Samson was already part of India's T20I setup, Kishan forced his way back into the squad after his exploits in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. Kishan finished the tournament as the highest run-getter and led Jharkhand to their maiden title to pip Jitesh Sharma and make his India comeback after over two years.
Pant was not considered as the selectors picked Samson and Kishan as the two wicket-keeper batters in India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Pant last featured in a T20I for India in July 2024 and failed to make his comeback into the team. However, Smith believes the swashbuckling wicket-keeper batter should have been part of India's squad.
The former New Zealand cricketer said Pant is a gifted batter and a match-winner, who could have proven to be an x-factor for India in the T20 World Cup.
"I’d pick Rishabh Pant in my team any day of the week," Smith told news agency PTI. "I’m surprised that Rishabh Pant is not here. He is a wonderfully gifted player. He can win a match. That’s what you’ve got to have with T20 players. They’ve got to be match-winners. He’s a match-winner," Smith was quoted as saying by PTI.
While he lamented Pant's absence in India's squad, Smith agreed that the Indian selectors made the right call by reverting to Samson as the first-choice opener and dropping Shubman Gill from the squad to include Kishan. Kishan proved his selection right with a sensational 76-run knock off just 32 balls in the 2nd T20I against New Zealand on Friday.
Ishan Kishan stars for India in 2nd T20I vs New Zealand
Kishan starred with the bat to help India thrash New Zealand by 7 wickets in the 2nd T20I and go 2-0 up in the ongoing five-match series. The left-hander slammed a quickfire 76 off just 32 balls, laced with 11 fours and 4 sixes to help India chase down 209 runs in just 15.2 overs and bag the Player of the Match award.
He combined with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who scored an unbeaten 82 off just 37 balls, to steer home comfortably in the tricky chase. Kishan and Suryakumar added 122 runs for the second wicket after India lost their openers early in the run-chase to set the tone for the hosts.
Shivam Dube also looked in great touch enroute to his brilliant cameo of unbeaten 36 off 18 balls as he shared a match-winning 87-run stand for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar. India will look to seal the five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead when they lock horns with New Zealand in the third T20I on Sunday, January 25.