 "Ishan Kishan has not played for India since November 2023. PTI")
India’s wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has faced a tumultuous 2024. Following the tour of South Africa last year, he reportedly made himself unavailable for selection for both the T20I series against Afghanistan and the subsequent five-Test series against England.
Despite captain Rohit Sharma and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) urging Indian players to participate in the Ranji Trophy, Kishan opted against playing for his state team, Jharkhand, choosing instead to train in Baroda ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
As a result of his decisions, Ishan was left out of the BCCI’s central contracts and had a lacklustre IPL season, amassing just 320 runs in 14 matches for the Mumbai Indians, who finished at the bottom of the table. Since then, he has been absent from the national team.
However, recent developments may signal a change in his situation. According to a Cricbuzz report, the 26-year-old is poised to make his return to domestic cricket.
Discussions with BCCI selectors have reportedly encouraged Kishan to make himself available for Jharkhand, with selectors warning of the potential loss of significant international opportunities if he continues to sit out domestic competitions. There’s also talk of a possible leadership role for him within the Jharkhand team.
Kishan’s last appearance for Team India came in November 2023 during the ODI World Cup, and there is speculation that his frustrations stemmed from being overlooked in favor of KL Rahul, a part-time wicketkeeper.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe domestic season will kick off with the Duleep Trophy, a first-class red-ball competition, starting September 5 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
However, it seems unlikely that Kishan will be considered for this four-team event unless he changes his stance on playing for Jharkhand.
His notable absence from the current Sri Lanka tour stands out, especially as Shreyas Iyer, who also missed out on central contracts, was able to secure a spot after participating in a few matches for Mumbai.
The selectors have made it clear that consistent performances in domestic cricket are essential for re-establishing a place in the national squad, and Kishan will need to take this advice to revive his international career.