"Wants to play all formats for India.." Wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan aims for international comeback

Ishan Kishan last played for India in home five-match T20I series against Australia in November 2023.

Young wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan has expressed his thoughts on making India comeback after being ousted of the side in the recent past. The 25-year-old, who was snubbed from The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) central contracts for the 2023-24 season earlier this year, looks to play for India in all three formats again.

The left-handed batter last played an international match for India during the five-match home T20I series against Australia in November 2023. Kishan was then included in the T20I and test squads for India’s tour of South Africa in 2023.

However, the Jharkhand-born cricketer pulled out of the two-match test series against South Africa in December 2023, citing mental fatigue. After that, he was snubbed by the BCCI from its annual contracts.

The reason behind his removal was the BCCI asked him to play in the Indian domestic tournaments, but he skipped the Ranji Trophy. 

After his removal from BCCI’s central contracts for 2023–24, the 23-year-old was spotted playing in the in the DY Patil Tournament before joining the Mumbai Indians for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.

I have done well in all three formats for India: Ishan Kishan

The Indian wicket-keeper batter, Kishan, missed out on three-match T20I series against Afghanistan earlier this year. He was then also excluded from the five-match test series against England at home.

For the third consecutive time, the BCCI selectors didn’t include the 23-year-old Kishan for the ongoing five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Recently, Kishan expressed that he is very happy to see Rishabh Pant back in action after surviving a life-threatening car accident in December 2022. Kishan further opened up on competition for wicket-keeper’s spot in the Indian cricket team after Pant’s comeback.

“It was heartening to see Rishabh back in action. As far as competition goes, you love challenges and when you compete with all the quality cricketers, it enhances your game. And then when you make it, you feel like you have earned it. I know it’s not going to be easy. But I feel competition gives you that feeling of satisfaction. I enjoy it. I don’t take any stress about it,” Kishan told the Indian Express.

The youngster also added that he wants to be part of the Indian team in all three formats. “I see myself playing in all three formats. I have done well in T20Is, ODIs, and Tests as well. I want to be part of all three formats.”

So far, Ishan Kishan has played two tests, 27 ODIs and 32 T20Is for the national side. He has scored 78, 933 and 796 runs respectively across formats. He also holds the record for hitting fastest ever double hundred in ODIs.

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