August 13, 2024

Ishan Kishan set for red-ball return, to lead Jharkhand in Buchi Babu Trophy

Ishan Kishan, the wicketkeeper-batter, has not played any red-ball cricket since his debut Test series in the Caribbean last July. He is set to lead the Jharkhand team in the upcoming Buchi Babu Trophy, a pre-season red-ball tournament in Tamil Nadu, starting on August 15. Although Kishan wasn’t initially on Jharkhand’s squad list, he will join the team in Chennai on Wednesday.

The decision marks the first step towards Ishan Kishan’s full return to first-class cricket. According to ESPNcricinfo, Kishan personally chose to participate in the tournament and informed the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), leading to his inclusion in the team.

Kishan is also expected to rejoin the Ranji Trophy during the 2024-25 season after expressing his intention to return to the state selectors. His last domestic first-class match was in December 2022. By skipping the latter part of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season, Kishan faced consequences, including being removed from the BCCI’s central contracts list for not prioritizing domestic cricket.

“With Ishan, it was never about ability,” a JSCA functionary said. “It was only about whether he was ready to return. The decision was with him. When he was not included in the initial list, it was only because we hadn’t heard from him. The moment he expressed his keenness to return, he was drafted in.”

Kishan’s return to red-ball cricket comes at a time when India are heading into a long Test season, comprising 10 games over the next five months, but a comeback won’t be easy. Kishan made his Test debut during India’s tour of the West Indies last year, when Rishabh Pant was recovering from injuries sustained during a car accident in December 2022.

Kishan’s Recent Struggles and Future Prospects

The second Test of the Caribbean tour in July 2023 remains Ishan Kishan’s last first-class match. Although he was selected for the 2023-24 South Africa tour, he requested to be released due to mental fatigue.

Kishan was also considered for a Test return during the five-Test series against England earlier this year but lost out to KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel after informing the selectors he wasn’t ready. He skipped the Ranji Trophy season, opting instead to train privately with his IPL captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda, which displeased the selectors. This choice, combined with Kishan’s absence from domestic cricket, contributed to his removal from the BCCI’s central contracts list.

With Rishabh Pant back in action and Jurel, who made a strong impression with his batting and wicketkeeping against England, rising in prominence, Kishan now finds himself further down the red-ball pecking order for India.

Kishan, who previously held a Grade C contract until it was withdrawn this year, played in two Tests, 17 ODIs, and 11 T20Is in 2023. He was part of India’s squad that reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup and stepped up in two matches as an opener when Shubman Gill was sidelined due to illness. “When you take a break, people gossip about it a lot, they say a lot of things on social media,” Kishan had said in April, referring to his time away from the game. “But I feel it’s important to understand that not everything is in the players’ hands. We can only make the best use of the break.

“This is what adopting a good mindset is. There is nothing I want to prove to someone. I just have to go there and enjoy. I have learned that you do not have to put pressure on yourself about these things, which are not in your hand.”

Rahul, Pant, Suryakumar, Gill set to play Duleep Trophy

Senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to miss the Duleep Trophy, which kicks off on September 5. According to thewicketinsider, the selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar will finalize the teams later this month. Despite the absence of these key players, most of the other centrally-contracted cricketers are expected to participate in the four-team tournament.

Key players to watch in the Duleep Trophy include KL Rahul, who missed four of the five Tests against England earlier this year due to injury, and Rishabh Pant, who may play his first red-ball match since fully recovering from a car accident in December 2022. Other notable batters expected to be selected across the four teams are Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rajat Patidar.

Additionally, Mohammed Shami, who is nearing full fitness, might be given a chance to prove his match readiness. Shami is in the final stages of his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru and has gradually increased his bowling workload over the past week.