The last year has been full of ups and downs for Ishan Kishan. Around this time last year, he was part of India’s Asia Cup winning team and had his sights set on a spot in the 2023 World Cup squad. In December 2022, he smashed the fastest ODI double century, scoring 210 off 126 balls, effectively ending Shikhar Dhawan’s chances of a comeback and establishing himself as a strong contender for the opener’s role alongside Shubman Gill.
However, things took an unexpected turn for the talented left-hander. Ishan opted to leave India’s tour of South Africa midway through, citing a need for a break, and his refusal to play domestic cricket led to the BCCI revoking his central contract in February. This decision pushed him out of the national team setup. Since then, apart from the IPL, Ishan has played just two competitive matches – one in the Buchi Babu tournament and the other in the Duleep Trophy Round 2 fixture.
Despite these setbacks, Ishan has shown resilience. In his recent appearance for India C in the Duleep Trophy, Ishan marked his return with a century, scoring 111 off 126 balls. His innings, laced with 14 fours and three sixes, demonstrated his determination to earn his place back in the Indian squad. His performance was a statement to the selectors, as highlighted by his Instagram post after the match, where he captioned some images of his innings with “Unfinished business”.
Here is the Instagram post:
Although Ishan hasn’t openly discussed his exclusion from the team, his actions reflect a strong desire to reclaim his spot. According to a report, Ishan’s break was linked to India’s emotional loss in the 2023 World Cup final.
Former India head coach Rahul Dravid commented on Ishan’s situation earlier this year, emphasizing that for the 26-year-old to be considered for selection again, he would need to prove himself in domestic cricket.
Ishan followed this advice and represented Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Trophy, where he scored an impressive 114 in the first innings and followed it with a match-winning knock of 41, including consecutive sixes to seal a thrilling victory. Unfortunately, a groin injury kept him out of the Duleep Trophy’s first round but he made a return for the second round, coinciding with social media calls to “Bring back Ishan Kishan”.
With fan support growing and a renewed hunger visible in his performances, Ishan Kishan’s journey back to the national team is one to watch closely. His recent interactions with fellow cricketers such as celebrating Shubman Gill’s birthday show that he remains connected to the team and with more consistent performances, he could soon be knocking on the doors of selection once again.
