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Ishan Kishan, the wicketkeeper-batter for Mumbai Indians, has undergone a transformation in his approach to the game. After a break from cricket, Kishan has returned with a renewed focus on self-improvement and contributing to his team’s success in the IPL 2024.

Kishan’s recent performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he scored a blistering 69 off 34 balls, is a testament to his newfound mindset. He acknowledges that a berth in India’s T20 World Cup squad is not within his control and is instead taking a match-by-match approach.

“About the World Cup, it is not in my hands and I am taking things very easy right now. You have to take one match at a time. One needs to understand that a lot is not in the hands of the players,” Kishan said.

Kishan’s break from cricket came after he requested a break during India’s tour of South Africa in December. He was subsequently not considered for any national assignments, and India head coach Rahul Dravid emphasized the need for Kishan to play domestic cricket to make his comeback.

During his break, Kishan focused on improving his cricketing skills. He played for Reserve Bank of India in the DY Patil T20 Cup and trained with MI skipper Hardik Pandya.

“I was practicing as well as I could,” Kishan said. “I had taken (an) off (time) and when you take an off, a lot of it is gets spoken about on social media.”

“What we can do is that if you have taken time (out) for yourself, use it the best way possible for yourself,” he added.

Kishan’s efforts have paid off in the IPL, where he is currently the leading run-getter for MI with 161 runs from five matches. His strike-rate of 182.95 has given his side an early momentum.

However, Kishan is not using his performance to prove a point to his detractors. “There is nothing like that (that) I want to prove to someone. I just have to go there and enjoy,” he said.

Kishan has also worked on his mindset, which has helped him become a stronger individual. “This is where getting a good mindset works. The Ishan Kishan of the past would not have left the balls alone if the bowling was good in the first two overs,” he said.

“But with time I have learned that a 20-over game is also very long and you can take your time and move forward while keeping the belief in yourself,” he added.

Kishan’s empathy for his teammates has also grown, which he believes has contributed to MI’s improved performance in the IPL. “These were the few things which helped me in the period and even now. We (MI) lost (a few) matches but most of the players were keen to work with the rest,” he said.

“It was never about us performing well individually and not knowing what other players are going through,” he added.

Kishan’s transformation is a testament to his resilience and determination. He has used his break from cricket to improve himself as an individual and as a player, and is now ready to lead Mumbai Indians to success in the IPL 2024.