Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh says that he is disappointed over the selection of Ishan Kishan as the stand-in captain ahead of Abhishek Singh in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Kishan is filling in for Pat Cummins, who is on the sidelines, recovering from an injury. While Abhishek has been named the vice-captain of the side, Yuvraj was not pleased with Kishan’s elevation.
“I was a bit disappointed. I also love Ishan Kishan. I have seen his growth in Indian cricket as well. Let me give you an example from the player’s perspective: if you switch it, Abhishek Sharma came into the team before the World Cup, his state team won, he scored 100, then he came into the World Cup team, Abhishek Sharma scored runs, India won the World Cup, and then they made Abhishek the captain, Yuvraj said on Sports Tak.
In franchise cricket, Ishan Kishan has been playing for one franchise for seven years, performing, giving his heart and soul for the franchise, then he is captaining the state, and then he does not get the captaincy, he gets the vice-captaincy. What frame of mind will he play franchise cricket with, without disappointment? But the good thing is that he said he has a good relationship with Ishan.”
Kishan’s elevation comes after his impressive performances as captain of the Jharkhand side, which lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was the highest run-getter in the tournament and also had a stellar T20 World Cup.
Yuvraj recalls 2007
Yuvraj drew comparisons with his own experience when MS Dhoni was preferred as captain over him despite serving as the vice-captain.
“For example, when I was in the Indian team, Bhajji was senior, Sehwag was senior, then I was somewhere, I was the vice-captain. This is about 2007. But out of nowhere, MS Dhoni comes and becomes captain, whatever the reasons were. When MS Dhoni was made captain, it was like someone destined to captain and do great things for India. That’s going to happen. But I’m just saying from a player’s perspective, it’s disappointing when someone has done so much for you in so many years,” Yuvraj added.
It’s not okay
Speaking of his father Yograj, Yuvraj has distanced himself from the comments he has made against Kapil Dev and Dhoni. Recently, Yograj narrated an incident where he took a pistol to Kapil Dev’s house after he was dropped from the Indian team. The former pacer has also criticised DHoi quite often, often accusing him of ending his son’s career sooner than it should have.
“Kapil was a great player and captain for India. I don’t know what the issue was between him and my father. I have played with MS Dhoni and have always expressed my relationship with him. But what my dad has said about him — I told him, ‘it’s not okay’. It reflects on me as I have played with him,” he said.
Yuvraj has played more than 400 international matches for India and played key roles in helping his country win the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup at home in 2011.
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