Ishan Kishan has been away from cricketing action since he decided to pull out from the Test series against South Africa for personal reasons.
Kishan finds himself out of contention for the Indian team, and coach Rahul Dravid has suggested that he needs to get back into the game to be considered. The last time Ishan Kishan played for India was in the T20I series against Australia, right after the conclusion of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Surprisingly, he hasn’t been on the cricket field since then.
Although Kishan was part of the Indian squad during the World Cup, the T20I series against Australia, and the subsequent series in South Africa, he didn’t get much playing time. Following this, he decided to sit out the Test series against South Africa.
Ishan Kishan’s acknowledgment of facing mental hurdles has raised concerns within the Indian cricket team as they gear up for the crucial Test series in South Africa. The talented southpaw decided to step back from India’s tour of South Africa to focus on tackling his mental health challenges.
Recently, Ishan Kishan has been seen honing his skills alongside the Pandya brothers at the Kiran More Academy in Baroda. Notably, in the upcoming IPL season, both Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan will be representing the Mumbai Indians, with Hardik taking on the role of captain.
Kiran More, the former India wicketkeeper, has confirmed Ishan Kishan’s presence at his academy for practice sessions. However, due to his involvement with the Mumbai Indians Women’s Premier League (WPL) team in Mumbai, More couldn’t divulge too many details.
Despite opting out of the Test series against South Africa, Ishan Kishan seems disinterested in competitive cricket, even in the wake of Rahul Dravid’s suggestion that he should play some form of the game to enhance his chances for a national team comeback.
It has been revealed that Ishan Kishan won’t be participating in Jharkhand’s upcoming Ranji game against Haryana starting on February 9. Speculations are rife regarding how this absence might influence the BCCI’s considerations for central contracts. Currently holding a Grade C central contract with an annual salary of 1 crore, Ishan Kishan’s future in the squad remains uncertain.
After Rishabh Pant’s unfortunate car accident in December 2022, Team India has grappled with the wicketkeeping position in Test cricket. The absence of Pant, known for his dazzling performances and immense potential, has posed a significant challenge for the squad. Finding a consistent replacement for Pant has proven to be a prolonged struggle, highlighting the crucial role of a reliable wicketkeeper in the team. The impact of Pant’s absence is palpable in Team India’s Test match performances, underscoring the need for a solid presence behind the stumps.
The left-handed wicketkeeper had a golden chance to solidify his position as India’s top choice in Test cricket, especially with KS Bharat struggling with poor form. Unfortunately, he’s missing out on crucial playing time that could have helped him establish himself as a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman in the longer format for the Indian team.
