"Acting nahi kar paya": Ishan Kishan image goes viral as fans catch Gautam Gambhir's plan

Ishan Kishan viral image during 4th T20I [Source: X]

In the India vs New Zealand 4th T20I at Vizag, India fielded a rather baffling lineup against the visitors, excluding the batting firepower Ishan Kishan. Although India had already won the series, the fourth T20I turned into a ground for experimentation for Gautam Gambhir and his team.

Ishan Kishan, who had breathed fire with the bat in the second and third T20Is with scores of 76 and 28 respectively, was expected to feature again. However, he was made to sit out as Suryakumar Yadav, during the toss, stated that Kishan was ruled out due to a niggle and was therefore rested for the match.

Baffling Playing XI against NZ 4th T20I in Vizag

As a result, Arshdeep Singh was brought in to replace Ishan Kishan, instead of Shreyas Iyer, who is fully fit and waiting in the wings but has not featured in any of the four T20Is so far.

India also faced the consequences of going in with six batters. Later, Yadav took responsibility and admitted that the idea was to give game time to everyone who is part of the World Cup squad.

Viral image of Ishan Kishan running on the field to serve drinks

However, an image of Ishan Kishan has been going viral on the internet since the match ended. During the game, Kishan was seen running onto the field with drinks to deliver a message to Harshit Rana during the tense chase.

Harshit Rana and Shivam Dube were hitting the ball mammothly while chasing 216 at Vizag, and Kishan was sent by Gautam Gambhir from the dugout with drinks and instructions.

The way Kishan sprinted onto the field appeared to completely contradict the idea of him carrying a niggle. Even during live commentary, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra pointed this out on air.

“Looking at the way Ishan Kishan was running around the ground, it did not seem like he had any niggle,” Chopra said.

He jokingly added that maybe it was just a shoe niggle and that Kishan might be seen fielding in the next game.

Netizens slam Gautam Gambhir for ‘plan’ leak

This, however, did not sit well with netizens on social media. Fans slammed head coach Gautam Gambhir for what they called a lack of transparency, once again questioning the familiar “niggle mystery,” where players appear too injured to play but fit enough to sprint with drinks.

Selection calls were criticised heavily, with many hoping that Ishan Kishan will feature in the final T20I against New Zealand.

Let's take a look at how netizens reacted to Ishan Kishan's viral image of running on the ground:

CricPal

@AnupPalAgt

🚨 Gautam Gambhir theory pull out 😂 Before the match Suryakumar Yadav said Ishan Kishan out of today's playing xi, he has a niggle issue. Now Ishan Kishan is running on the field with drinks while he has a niggle, what do you think on it ! And Aakash chopra during the match

Jan 28, 2026, 10:29 PM

CricPal

@AnupPalAgt

@iamdopecode The Gautam Gambhir formula it was

Shruti Silva Panda

@silva_shruti

@AnupPalAgt The famous “niggle” mystery. Too injured to play, fit enough to sprint with drinks. Happens too often to be coincidence. Selection calls should be honest and clear—fans aren’t fools. If it’s tactical, just say so. Transparency builds trust, not shoe-niggle theories. 🏏

cricroast

@cricroaster

@AnupPalAgt Niggle so bad he can carry drinks but not a bat. Medical science has peaked

CricPal

@AnupPalAgt

@cricroaster Gautam Gambhir over the medical science, its GG and his own masterpiece

AkCricTalks🎤🇮🇳

@AKCricTalks

@AnupPalAgt hehehe. Acting nhi kr paya

Pawan Sharma

@psaraswat50

@AnupPalAgt It's only politics no other matter Otherwise shreyas iyer definitely in playing 11

Shreya

@shreyagenai

@AnupPalAgt It’s all theories, made by GG before by match just to justify their decisions.

Sanky

@sankyfuture

@AnupPalAgt You don’t know big plan 😄 they are trying to keep him out of World Cup 😝by making him run with injury

SHAKTI 🌼

@trueictfan_07

@AnupPalAgt Tu bimar hai are me nhi are tu hai GG🤡

Suraj Kumar

@mrsurajsurya

Ishan Kishan को Niggle injury था क्या 😅😂 #IshanKishan

Jan 29, 2026, 9:13 AM

Setu

@setusavla

The reports coming from Ground reporters of yesterday’s match suggest that Ishan Kishan was clearly DROPPED and there was no NIGGLE Were they protecting Sanju Samson or they just don’t want Ishan Kishan in playing XI

Jan 29, 2026, 9:10 AM

Nibraz Ramzan

@nibraz88cricket

Ishan Kishan was ruled out of yesterday’s game due to an injury (Niggle) But, during the drinks break he ran faster than the entire Indian squad. #INDVNZ

Jan 29, 2026, 9:10 AM

Ishan Kishan’s recent red-hot form

For context, Ishan Kishan has been in the form of his life since the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2025, where he scored 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and an astonishing strike rate of 197.33.

His standout scores included 101, 113, 93, 63, and a 23-ball 47 for Jharkhand. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he continued his purple patch with a 39-ball 125 against Karnataka and later smashed a 32-ball 76 against New Zealand in Raipur.

With Suryakumar Yadav making it clear that the focus is on T20 World Cup 2026 preparations, and India already having sealed the series, Kishan’s niggle might be overlooked to bring him back into the playing XI for the final T20I.