In the last year, Ishan Kishan has experienced dramatic shifts in his cricketing career. Around this time last year, he was part of India’s successful Asia Cup campaign and had his sights set on the 2023 World Cup. He had made headlines by scoring the fastest ODI double century, a feat achieved in just 126 balls, which solidified his place in the team. At that point, he had overtaken Shikhar Dhawan and left Sanju Samson behind in the competition for a spot in the Indian squad. Ishan was also in contention with Shubman Gill for the opener’s position.
However, things took a sharp downturn for Ishan. He withdrew from India’s tour of South Africa midway last year and has not been able to secure his place back on the team since. His decision to take a break, combined with his refusal to participate in domestic cricket, led to the BCCI terminating his central contract in February. This move further distanced him from the team for an extended period. Over the last seven months, Ishan has played just two matches outside the IPL – one in the Buchi Babu tournament and another in the Duleep Trophy Round 2 match.
Despite these challenges, Ishan is focusing on what he can control. He made a strong statement in his comeback by scoring a century for India C, smashing 111 runs off 126 balls. His performance, which included 14 boundaries and 3 sixes, indicated his determination to reclaim his spot in the Indian squad. Although this century against India D is a step in the right direction, Ishan will need several more such performances to regain the trust of the selectors.
After celebrating his century in the drawn match against India D, Ishan Kishan took to Instagram to send a clear message to the selectors. He posted a picture of himself in action, captioning it with the phrase “Unfinished business.” Though Ishan has not publicly addressed his exclusion from the team, this post reflects his drive to make a strong return.
According to reports from earlier this year, Ishan’s decision to take a break was influenced by India’s defeat in the 2023 World Cup final.
