Ishan Kishan sends strong message to selectors with hundred in Duleep Trophy 2024

Ishan Kishan played two tests for India in July 2023.

Ishan Kishan returned to First Class (FC) cricket with a bang as he cracked a terrific century in the second round of the Duleep Trophy 2024-24. While batting for India C against India B at the Rural Development Trust Stadium B in Anantapur, the left-hander played an entertaining knock of 111 runs in 126 balls that helped his side finish day 1 at 357/5.

It was a dramatic and sort of unexpected comeback for Kishan as he was a late inclusion in the squad. Kishan missed the first round of the Duleep Trophy due to a groin injury that he sustained during the Buchi Babu tournament in Tamil Nadu. There, he had blasted a sensational century as well.

Sanju Samson was added to the India D squad for the first round as Kishan’s replacement. Kishan was then not named in the squads for the second round. However, ahead of the start of the second round of matches, his name was mentioned in the playing XI of India C. This took everyone by surprise and confused the fans.

This was Kishan’s first proper FC match – the Buchi Babu tournament is not assigned FC status – since the test series against West Indies in July last year when he made his test debut for India in the absence of Rishabh Pant.

Ishan Kishan aims to be on the plane to Australia

Ishan Kishan has undergone a dramatic phase since late last year. He skipped the test tour of South Africa, citing personal reasons and then was dropped for the England series. He lost his central contract with the BCCI for not playing Ranji Trophy when he was asked to.

He missed the first round of the Duleep Trophy, thus failing to make a case for himself for selection for the Bangladesh test series, while Pant stormed back into India’s test squad with a fifty for India B.

Coming in to bat at number four, Kishan flayed 14 fours and three sixes. His strike rate of 88 stood out among his teammates. He forged a partnership of 189 runs for the third wicket with Baba Indrajith.

Kishan cracked his seventh FC century, which is in addition to 17 fifties, in what is his 51st FC game.

While he may have missed the cut for the Bangladesh test series, India have a long test season ahead and Kishan made a strong case for a comeback with a stunning century in the second round of the Duleep Trophy. His innings became the backbone of India C’s innings, which has crossed 400 runs on day 2.

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