India’s wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is set to make a grand return to domestic red-ball cricket in the upcoming Duleep Trophy. Kishan, who last played a domestic game in 2022, will lead Team D in the tournament, which kicks off on September 2024.
Prior to the Duleep Trophy, Kishan will lead Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu tournament. The 25-year-old last played for India in the T20I series against Australia in November 2023. He was also part of the team for the subsequent tour of South Africa but withdrew due to personal reasons.
Kishan’s absence from domestic cricket towards the end of the 2023-24 season proved costly, as he was removed from the central contract list for not prioritizing domestic cricket. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has emphasized the importance of Kishan playing domestic cricket to regain his place in the Indian side.
The Duleep Trophy marks the start of the new domestic season and will feature some of the finest players from the international circuit and emerging talents. The tournament will be played in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Despite reports that senior players might be picked for the Duleep Trophy, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin have not been selected. Shubman Gill, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shreyas Iyer will captain the four teams.
Kishan’s decision to participate in the Duleep Trophy is a significant step in his bid to regain his place in the Indian team. He has featured in two Tests, 17 ODIs, and 11 T20Is for India in 2023 and was part of the squad that reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
