"Ishan Kishan should be allowed to play IPL wearing India's jersey" - Fans erupt as Ishan Kishan becomes highest-ranked T20I batter for India

Ishan Kishan was previously in 76th position in the ICC Men's T20I Rankings (P.C.:BCCI)

Explosive Indian batter Ishan Kishan's sensational performances in the first three T20Is against South Africa have earned him a place among the top 10 batters in the latest ICC Men's T20I rankings. The 23-year-old has scored 164 runs in the three games against the Proteas, while getting India off to a flying start in each. This has helped him jump an incredible 68 spots to seventh position in the rankings.

Kishan didn't have the greatest of IPLs this season, scoring 418 runs at a modest strike rate of just above 120. He, however, has let his bat do the talking in T20Is this year, silencing his critics by becoming India’s leading run-scorer.

Due to Kishan's poor IPL form, a few eyebrows were raised when he was named in India's T20I squad against South Africa. Some even claimed the 23-year-old was overrated and that he was selected only because captain Rohit Sharma favored him.

Kishan's fans, however, are ecstatic to see his amazing climb up the ICC Men's T20I Rankings. Here are some of the Twitter reactions:

Ishandaar Kishan the highest ranked T20i batsman of India 💙🤩
#IshanKishan https://t.co/zU1oRpZGLx

Ishan Kishan is the highest ranked T20I batsman of India currently! https://t.co/ptg6uEDgOF

There was a lot of talk on Ishan Kishan's batting strike rate, Lots of people talking about his selection in the playing XI for india, now today Ishan Kishan is the highest ranked Indian T20I batsman in ICC T20I batting rankings, he is at the moment at 7th position in rankings.

Ishan Kishan Is Number 7 In ICC T20 Ranking 😲

Ishan kishan moves to no :7 in ICC t20i batsman ranking and now he's the no 1 batsman for India in t20i rankings 🤯

#IshanKishan https://t.co/eVprImACr5

Rishabh pant is ranked 64 🤒🤒

Whereas his backup ishan kishan is at no : 7 🙄 twitter.com/Goatcheeku_18/…

Congratulations🎉🎊 @ishankishan51 Now in top 10 with +68😲😍

#ishan #kishan #INDvsSA #COMEBACK #Bhuvi #ICCRankings https://t.co/ta6KFKz0xu

Ishan Kishan in T20Is

56
4
20*
29
35
2
34
4
89
16
76
34
54

7 30+ from 13 innings

Rohit Sharma and Ishan kishan should be allowed to play IPL wearing India's jersey.

Ishan Kishan in Ishan Kishan in
IPL. T20Is https://t.co/96llXqZJU9

Ishan Kishan in the T20 series against SA:

• 76(48)
• 34(21)
• 54(35)

He has been outstanding in this Series!!👏👏

Well played “Pocket Dynamite”
chhota packet bada Dhamaka 🔥

Ishan didn't disappoint us @KKRiders 👀

#INDvsSA #CricketTwitter #ishankishan https://t.co/dZpQBmVOZf

Ishan kishan should be released next year or not? @mipaltan

Ishan Kishan in this T20I Series against South Africa:-

76(48).
34(21).
54(35).

3 innings, 164 runs, 54.67 average, 157.69 strike rate, 2 Fifties - Outstanding Ishan Kishan. https://t.co/BoXOxs8eaH

Ishan Kishan should be India's back up opener and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli be our main opener.

Ishan Kishan My King
Play like this always 😭

POCKET DYNAMITE !! second fifty Ishan Kishan in this series.

👊Go big, Ishan!

#TeamIndia #INDvSA https://t.co/d7amMZOig2

Ishan Kishan in the T20 series against SA:

76(48)

34(21)

54(35)

Well played “Pocket Dynamite”💥 👏

Expected such innings from you, and you didn't disappoint us all, you are the future of Indian cricket, we all are proud of you ! 💙

#INDvsSA #CricketTwitter @ishankishan51 https://t.co/aEpvqaxgjk

Ishan Kishan vs MS Dhoni (T20Is)

Mat- 13 v 100
Avg- 38 v 32
SR- 132 v 125
50s- 4 v 1
MOM- 1 v 0 https://t.co/4SbF3mKw4s

🔝🏏 ON TOP! Ishan Kishan is now the leading run-scorer for India in T20Is in 2022.

🔥 Out of his 3️⃣4️⃣0️⃣ runs, 1️⃣6️⃣4️⃣ came in the ongoing series against 🇿🇦 with 2️⃣ fifties so far in the series.

📸 Getty • #IshanKishan #INDvSA #INDvsSA #TeamIndia #BharatArmy https://t.co/xajf0RyNoN

This Means one day Ishan kishan is going to lead indian cricket team. twitter.com/Champ_Ro5/stat…

Ishan Kishan has been outstanding in the ongoing series.

As an 'opener' He has scored at 157.69 strike rate, 164 runs from just 3 games against quality opposition bowlers (Nortje + Rabada + Shamsi)

👏👏👏 Hope he scores more and more match winning knocks. @Rizzvi73 #INDvsSA

Your Apology Should be as Louder as Your Disrespect Was .
KING ISHAN KISHAN https://t.co/P9m71bbBsN

The Only Indian Batter in Top 10 T20 Rankings 🥺🖼️💯💥 @ishankishan51

Rise of an rockster 🕊️

Make India proud #IshanKishan https://t.co/aXF1QxpDzT

Ishan Kishan Ki Innings Ko Fluke Batane Wale Ab Uski Consistency Ki Taarif Kar Rahe Hain . 👏❤
Well Done @ishankishan51 ,If You Play Like This ,No One Is Going To Take Your Spot From T20 World Cup Team .
#RohitSharma𓃵 #CricketTwitter

Ishan Kishan's aggression could be the template for India going ahead

India definitely showed a modern way of approaching the shortest format of the game. Although they didn't score as many runs in the second game, their intent in all three matches so far this series has always been about making the most of the powerplay.

Many former Indian cricketers hailed Ishan Kishan for his aggressive knock of 76 in the first game, where he was caught in the deep, despite scoring 20 runs off the over already. Gautam Gambhir praised the southpaw for his selfless knock and felt he should be India's opener in the T20 World Cup.

With KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in the mix, it will be interesting to see if the selectors take a punt on Kishan at the top in the T20 World Cup.