Ishan Kishan returns to India's red-ball plans [Source: AFP]According to emerging reports, destructive wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has re-entered India's red-ball plans ahead of the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Ishan Kishan has shown remarkable batting prowess in white-ball cricket since making his comeback to the Indian team prior to the 2026 T20 World Cup. As the dynamic batter continues his onslaught in T20Is and ODIs, a report from the Times of India has revealed that Ishan's name has entered Team India's blue print for red-ball cricket before the two-match Test series against New Zealand. BCCI selectors initiate plans to keep Ishan Kishan ready for Tests: ReportAccording to a report from the Times of India, the BCCI selectors have shown interest in keeping Ishan Kishan ready for Test cricket. In fact, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter was in the mix for the India-A team's upcoming series against New Zealand-A. But as he is likely to participate in the ODIs and T20Is, Ishan might not feature in the India-A vs New Zealand-A unofficial Test series, which comprises three matches. With Ishan unlikely to be available for the series, the selectors are looking at Kumar Kushagra and Dhruv Jurel as the wicketkeeping options against New Zealand-A. Nevertheless, the report claims that the selectors are seriously considering facilitating Ishan's red-ball comeback through future assignments. Also Read: Ishan Kishan Slams 1000 T20I Runs In A Calendar Year, Becomes Only Second Indian To Do So"It is understood that selectors have initiated plans to keep Ishan Kishan ready for the longest format. While they wanted him to feature in the A series, the overlapping of ODIs and T20ls could force them to look towards Dhruv Jurel and Kumar Kushagra," the TOI report stated. Ishan Kishan's India redemption in a nutshellSwashbuckling left-handed batter Ishan Kishan made his Test debut against West Indies in 2023. He featured in two Test matches before finding himself out of India's red-ball setup. Overall, he has scored 78 runs, including a fifty, across three Test innings. Ishan's unavailability for the domestic matches reportedly led to his Central Contract snub. However, he fought his way back into the Indian white-ball team after exceptional performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, where he led Jharkhand to their maiden title. Since making his comeback to the Indian team, Ishan Kishan has clobbered 1179 international runs at an average of 38.03 and a strike rate of 165.12. He recently had a magnificent Duleep Trophy 2026 season, scoring 409 runs, including a historic double hundred in the final, at a marvellous average of 102.25. Also Read: Aaryavir Sehwag Named Delhi's Captain In Vinoo Mankad Trophy
