Out-of-favor Indian keeper-batter Ishan Kishan is poised for a return to domestic cricket, likely to feature for Jharkhand in the upcoming season. According to Cricbuzz, the youngster has agreed to play for the state and has been included in the list of 25 pre-season probables by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA).
The national selectors have counseled Kishan, advising him to take greater responsibility moving forward. They emphasized that he shouldn’t take opportunities for granted, warning that he risks missing out during the prime years of his career. Kishan, who scored a half-century on his T20I debut, is one of the few cricketers to have struck an ODI double-hundred and was part of India’s 50-over World Cup squad last year.
Kishan hasn’t featured for India since November 2023 during the home T20I series against Australia. The 26-year-old had been adamant about not playing in the Ranji Trophy despite instructions from the BCCI and selectors. He even opted out of India’s Test squad ahead of the two-game series in South Africa, leading to his exclusion from the BCCI’s central contract list.
“I Experienced Travel Fatigue” – Ishan Kishan
During an interview with The Indian Express last year, Ishan Kishan revealed that travel fatigue had taken a significant toll on him, leaving him with no option but to rest. He lamented that few understood his situation. He explained:
“I was scoring runs and then I found myself on the bench. These things do happen in a team sport. However, I experienced travel fatigue. It meant there was something wrong, I was not feeling well or right and so I decided to take a break.”
He further added:
“Sadly, barring my family and a few close people, no one understood that. [The past few months] were depressing. Today I don’t want to say that everything was fine. It was not easy for me at all. You go through a lot.”
The domestic season is set to commence with the Duleep Trophy on September 5. Ishan Kishan’s return to domestic cricket could be a crucial step in reviving his international career and fulfilling the potential he has shown in his sporadic appearances for India.