"Dad always said Test cricket is the real cricket"- Ishan Kishan ahead of West Indies Tests

Ishan Kishan has been picked in the Indian test squad as a back-up wicket keeper for the West Indies tour.

India will begin their first assignment for the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with two match test series against West Indies. They will play a multi-format series, which will start with first test from July 12 (Wednesday) at the Windsor Park in Dominica. The Indian selection committee made some big changes in the Test squad and gave chances to some young faces.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad got their maiden test call-ups, while Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat retained their places. India are missing Rishabh Pant in all three formats. That is why they have used a multiple keepers across the formats. However, in the red-ball cricket, they have stuck with Bharat in Pant's absence. Meanwhile, Kishan has been part of the team in the last couple of series but hasn't made his debut yet. He is still searching for his first chance.

"Test cricket is the real cricket"- Ishan Kishan recalls advice of his father on his maiden test call

Bharat has failed in the games he has played but still, it will be interesting to see whether Kishan will get a chance or if India will keep giving Bharat another opportunity. After MS Dhoni, the young wicket-keeper is another big name from Jharkhand. Ishan Kishan has become a regular in Indian white-ball format and has done pretty well so far. He made his T20I debut in March 2021 and ODI debut in 2021 and eagerly waiting to get an Indian cap in red-ball cricket.

In a recent chat with Shubman Gill, the 24-year-old revealed the first conversation he had with his father when he was first selected for the Indian test side. Ishan Kishan said, "When I was playing white ball, he (Ishan’s father) used to keep reminding me about how Test cricket is the real cricket, where a batsman faces real challenges and his skill sets are tested. To play at that level is a big thing. I was very happy when I got the news of my Test call-up and if I get the chance, I will try to perform well for the team."

The 24-year-old has played 48 First-class games in his domestic career and scored 2985 runs at an average of 38.76. He has also scored six centuries and 16 half-centuries, with a best of 273. With India trying young players in the team, we might see the Jharkhand-born keeper getting a chance in the coming series.