Why Ishan Kishan Can Be Gambhir's Favourite For 2027 World Cup Ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma

How Ishan can topple Tilak, Jaiswal in India ODI team [Source: AFP]

In the last 6 months, Ishan Kishan has become a major part of India's white-ball setup. In January, he dramatically returned to the T20Is before creeping his way back in the ODIs, almost three years after his last fifty-over game for the Men in Blue.

With his latest knock of 125(79) against Afghanistan, he further proved that he is here to stay and grab his opportunities with both hands. Courtesy of the outstanding form, Kishan has potentially put several counterparts, like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma, behind him in the pecking order. We break down how he has managed to do it below.

Ishan Kishan's return from exile

In early 2024, Ishan Kishan was sidelined from all forms of international cricket by the BCCI due to some off-field issues. Despite being a regular squad member for a few years, he suddenly lost prominence and knocking on the doors with good performances was not enough for him.

Meanwhile, the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Dhruv Jurel became a part of the team and did really well to solidify their spots across formats. But then came the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26, where he led Jharkhand to the title, while being the leading run-getter at 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.32. This includes a 101(49) in the final.

Thanks to these SMAT outings, he returned to the T20Is, weeks ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, and eventually helped India win the title.

In 2026, Ishan Kishan's 691 runs across ODIs and T20Is are the most any player has scored for India. He has struck at the rate of 193.01 and has four fifties and two hundreds — forcing his way back into the World Cup contention, considering India's inclination towards left-handed batters.

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Why is Ishan Kishan's comeback bad news for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma?

1. Recent form

As mentioned above, Ishan Kishan has been India's best white-ball batter by numbers in 2026. During the same period, Jaiswal has played only two matches and scored 28 runs in two innings. Tilak Varma has scored 207 runs in 9 innings at a strike rate of 154.47, but Ishan's numbers are significantly better.

Ishan also did well in the IPL 2026, scoring 602 runs in 15 matches, at 182.42, while Jaiswal got 427 runs in 16 innings at 152.50 and Tilak scored 359 runs at 145.93.

2. More ODI experience

Since Ishan Kishan's ODI debut in 2021, he had become a regular member of the team, playing multiple roles. He was also a part of the World Cup 2023 squad, which made it to the final of the tournament.

During 2021 to 2023, Kishan played 27 ODIs for India, averaging 42.40 at a strike rate of 102.19, with 7 fifties and a hundred to accumulate 933 runs. This is significantly higher than the ODI cricket played by both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan.

3. Effectiveness in different roles

During his time as India's ODI player, he has played as a backup opener, number 3, middle-order batter and a wicketkeeper — four different roles. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal was roped in as the third opener behind Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, but Jaiswal could only play 4 ODIs and scored 171 runs at a strike rate of 86.80, including a century to his name. This was followed by a dip in form for Jaiswal in all formats.

Thanks to India's well-documented need for a left-handed batter in the top-6, during the same period, Tilak Varma was tried at 3 to 5 across 5 matches, but failed to deliver.

Furthermore, Tilak Varma's strike rate in the ongoing tri-series with India A displayed his poor strike rate, scoring 208 runs in 4 innings at a strike rate of 75.09.

Notably, Jaiswal can only play as an opener, while Tilak Varma can only bat in the middle-order. Kishan's ability to keep wickets gives him a further edge.

Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Ishan Kishan as top-order batters in ODIs

(Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Ishan Kishan as top-order batters in ODIs)

The above stats show the difference in Jaiswal and Kishan's ODI pedigree. While Jaiswal has shown immense potential across formats, apart from his century against South Africa in late 2025, he hasn't grabbed his chances in the format, as opposed to Kishan's good numbers with substantial experience.

Ishan Kishan vs Tilak Varma as middle-order batters in ODIs

(Ishan Kishan vs Tilak Varma stats at number 3-5 in ODIs)

These numbers represent a significant gap between Tilak and Ishan in ODIs. Despite being a regular in the T20I squad and India's inclination towards left-hand batters, Tilak could not break into the ODI team due to his inability to pace the innings, contrary to Ishan Kishan.

Conclusion

• To be fair to Jaiswal and Tilak, the duo has not played enough ODI cricket to be judged. But the competition is cutthroat, and they needed to make the most out of their opportunities, which they have not done yet.
• While Jaiswal remains in the squad, Virat Kohli's return will mean he misses out on the next ODI assignment, i.e., the England tour.
• Kishan is in blistering form, which cannot be wasted, and he also provides India a chance to tweak their combination, and he would still fit in like a glove.
• Plus, the number of ODIs in the coming year will mean India would want to give someone a long run and moving forward, India are likely to prefer Kishan's experience over Jaiswal and Tilak for the World Cup 2027.

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