Ishan Kishan has turned 2026 into a year of relentless run-scoring, producing big performances across the IPL, international cricket and the Duleep Trophy. What makes his season particularly striking is the range of situations in which those runs have come.
The year began with a prolific IPL campaign, where Kishan amassed 602 runs. His form then carried into international cricket, with the left-hander continuing to produce match-defining knocks regardless of the format.
In ODIs, Kishan scored 125 against Afghanistan, underlining his ability to build a substantial innings in the 50-over game. He then shifted to T20Is and struck 103 against New Zealand, showing that his aggressive game could translate into a major score even in the shortest format.
The biggest stages have brought out another level from him. During the T20 World Cup, Kishan scored a quickfire 77 off 40 balls against Pakistan before producing 54 off just 25 deliveries against New Zealand in the final. Both innings showcased the attacking intent that has made him such a dangerous white-ball batter.
His form has now extended into red-ball cricket, where the challenge is entirely different. Captaining East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final, Kishan produced a monumental 270 in the first innings before adding another 80 in the second. The double effort also came while he was leading the side, giving the performance another dimension.
The Duleep Trophy innings were particularly significant because Kishan has spoken about changing his approach after a difficult period in his career. Rather than getting consumed by expectations, he has focused on the basic requirement of batting: scoring runs. That mindset has produced numbers that are difficult to ignore. Across the IPL, ODIs, T20Is, the T20 World Cup and first-class cricket, Kishan has repeatedly found ways to influence games.
His 602-run IPL season established the foundation. The 125 against Afghanistan showed his ODI range, while the 103 against New Zealand demonstrated his ability to dominate in T20Is. The World Cup knocks against Pakistan and New Zealand came when the stakes were at their highest, and the Duleep Trophy final double century and 80 proved that his game has depth beyond white-ball cricket.
For Kishan, 2026 has therefore been more than a year of big scores. It has been a sustained demonstration of adaptability, aggression and consistency across formats, with the 270 and 80 in Chennai providing perhaps the strongest statement yet of where his game stands.
