Ishan Kishan to Lead Jharkhand in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26

India’s Ishan Kishan has been appointed as the captain of Jharkhand for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025/26 season, as confirmed by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association. The tournament is scheduled to commence on December 24, with Jharkhand facing Karnataka in their opening match in Ahmedabad.
The Jharkhand squad for the season comprises a blend of experienced players and young talent, including Kumar Kushagra, Anukul Roy, Robin Minz, Abhinav Sharan, and Virat Singh, aiming to continue their success in white-ball cricket.
Kishan’s leadership role comes after his exceptional performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26, where he guided Jharkhand to their first SMAT title. During the tournament, he scored 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44, with two centuries and two half-centuries. His standout moment was his commanding 101 in the final against Haryana, leading his team to victory.
Kishan’s impressive run has also earned him a spot in the Indian squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as the second-choice wicketkeeper-batter, behind Sanju Samson. This selection reflects his consistent domestic performances.
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar praised Kishan’s form, stating, “He bats at the top in white-ball cricket. He’s been in good form. He’s played before for India. He has a double hundred in one-day cricket. He wasn’t in the Indian team because there’s a Rishabh Pant and a Dhruv Jurel ahead. They’re two pretty good players.”
Jharkhand Squad For Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26: Ishan Kishan (WK & captain), Virat Singh, Utkarsh Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK & vice-captain), Robin Minz, Anukul Roy, Sharandeep Singh, Shikhar Mohan, Pankaj Kumar (WK), Bala Krishna, Md Kounain Quraishi, Shubh Sharma, Amit Kumar, Manishi, Abhinav Sharan, Sushant Mishra, Vikash Singh, Saurabh Shekhar, Rajandeep Singh, Shubham Singh.