Our Bureau
Christchurch
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is on the verge of achieving three significant milestones as India prepare for a five-match T20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand, beginning in Christchurch on Thursday. The left-handed batter needs just seven runs to surpass Suryakumar Yadav’s record for the most T20I runs scored by an Indian in a calendar year, while also closing in on two other major achievements.
Kishan has scored 1,158 runs in 34 T20I innings in 2026, averaging 37.35 at a strike rate of 172.06. His tally includes one century and seven half-centuries, underlining his impressive form this year. Suryakumar holds the Indian record with 1,164 T20I runs in a calendar year, achieved in 2022.
The 28-year-old batter is also just 46 runs away from completing 2,000 runs in T20 Internationals, a milestone that would make him the seventh Indian to enter the club. His performances at number three have strengthened his position in the national side and made him one of the players to watch during the upcoming series.
Kishan is additionally within reach of the record for the most T20I runs scored in a calendar year by a batter from a Test-playing nation. Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan holds the benchmark with 1,326 runs in 2021. Kishan needs 169 more runs to surpass that mark, making the five-match series an important opportunity to close the gap.
India’s tour begins with the first T20I in Christchurch on October 22. The series will provide Kishan with several opportunities to add to his tally and establish new benchmarks in the shortest international format.
His recent consistency and aggressive approach could prove valuable for India as the team looks to build momentum against New Zealand. With multiple records within reach, Kishan’s performances will be closely watched throughout the series.