Patna, March 10 – India's wicketkeeper batsman Ishan Kishan said that he hopes to inspire young players through his performance after playing a major role in India's T20 World Cup 2026 victory.
Kishan was accompanied by his father, Pranav Pandey, and received a grand welcome by the fans, who welcomed the champion player by chanting his name.
Kishan, who made a strong return to the Indian side just before the World Cup, feels that his inspiring comeback could motivate young players in the city.
"Our team won, obviously, it is a very good thing, not only for us, but for the whole nation. We hope to continue playing cricket like this and keep winning," Kishan said to the media at the airport.
"It feels great because I believe the better I perform, the more motivation it will be for the young kids here who want to grow. I always try to ensure as many players as possible emerge from every corner. Now that we've played the World Cup, it shows that with hard work, you can succeed from anywhere," he added.
Kishan also scolded the reporters for asking questions about Kirti Azad's tweet, in which the cricketer turned politician criticised the captain of the Indian cricket team, Surya Kumar Yadav, and the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah, for taking the T20 World Cup trophy to a temple in Ahmedabad.
"Sir, we have won such a great World Cup. Please ask a good question. What should I say about what Kirti Azad said? Please ask something meaningful, like how much fun it was or what the experience was like," Kishan said.
Kishan, who became the second-highest run scorer for India in the T20 World Cup 2026 after scoring 317 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.22 and a strike rate of over 193, with three fifties, including one in the finals, spoke about his plans for the future.
"Nothing much, just keep scoring runs, keep playing, and keep winning," he said.
While his father, Pranav, said, “It feels very good. We have repeated history and also avenged the defeat. Now we will prepare for the 2027 World Cup.”
Kishan will now take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, where he will represent his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have retained the batter ahead of the tournament.