Ishan Kishan, the enigmatic wicketkeeper-batter, has become the focal point of speculation and intrigue due to his extended absence from the Indian cricket team. His last on-field appearance dates back to the home T20I series against Australia in November 2023. However, Kishan took a hiatus from the cricketing arena during the Test series in South Africa in December, citing personal reasons.
Rahul Dravid’s advice
In response to India’s head coach Rahul Dravid‘s advice to engage in competitive cricket for a resurgence in form, Kishan chose not to represent Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024. Instead, he has been spotted honing his skills alongside Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya at Vadodara’s Reliance Cricket Stadium.
Also READ: Ishan Kishan defies coach Rahul Dravid’s advice; trains with Pandya brothers for IPL 2024
Ishan Kishan’s perspective
Now according to the Indian Express report, Kishan is gearing up for a comeback, targeting the DY Patil T20 tournament as his return to competitive action. The left-handed batter, known for his aggressive style, seems determined to make a mark and reclaim his spot in the Indian team. The ambitious goal on Kishan’s horizon is a return to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup in 2024. With the tournament scheduled to take place in the West Indies and USA from June 1 to June 29, Kishan is looking to leave no stone unturned in his preparation.
“He will ask for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the board. He will be playing for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He wants to earn his spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad with a good outing in the IPL. It is a long road but the hunger to play cricket is back and he wants to play in all three formats,” a source stated.
Ranji Trophy: A special connection
While Kishan has chosen an alternate path by not participating in the Ranji Trophy, reports further claimed that the tournament holds a special place in his cricketing journey.
“Ishan has always given priority to the Ranji Trophy. In the 2022-23 season, he was constantly travelling with the Indian cricket team but despite the hectic schedule he played a couple of Ranji Trophy games, and scored a century against Kerala, which helped him earn a place in India’s Test team. All these accusations are just rubbish,” a source concluded.
