Watch: Ishan Kishan posts cryptic video on social media among speculation surrounding absence from Indian team

Amid widespread speculation surrounding his absence from the Indian team as well as his possible return to action, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan on Friday shared a video of himself meditating and training. The video posted by Kishan on microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) shows the Mumbai Indians keeper-batter sitting cross-legged in a meditative posture and performing breathing exercises. Kishan is then seen sprinting across a ground in the second part of the video and performing a wide variety of drills.

🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/XjUfL18Ydc

— Ishan Kishan (@ishankishan51) January 12, 2024

The video, which has garnered thousands of likes, might be construed as Kishan’s answer to rumours of him partying in Dubai at a time when he was supposed to be taking care of his mental health . Kishan, who made two appearances in the ICC World Cup, has last represented the Men in Blue during the five-T20I series against Australia at home. He would then skip the subsequent tour of South Africa and also sit out of the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan that got underway in Mohali on Thursday. The Indian team had confirmed that Kishan had taken a break from cricket due to personal reasons after a packed 2023. Rumours of Kishan being punished by the BCCI for indulging in revelry during a mental health break also began to circulate on social media as one of the reasons behind his absence from the T20I series against Afghanistan. India head coach Rahul Dravid, however, refuted suggestions of “disciplinary action” being taken against Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who was also not included for the T20I series against the Afghan Atalan, and advised the wicketkeeper-batter to work his way back into the team by proving his fitness in the ongoing Ranji Trophy . “Absolutely no disciplinary issue. Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan requested for a break, which we agreed in South Africa. We supported it. He has not yet made himself available. When he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection,” Dravid told reporters in Mohali on the eve of the first T20I, which India ended up winning by six wickets. The Indian team is reportedly considering Kishan as one of their options for the wicketkeeper’s slot in the five-Test series against England that gets underway in Hyderabad on 25 January. Kishan, however, is yet to approach the Jharkhand cricket team for featuring in one of their next two fixtures.