Ishan Kishan, the talented wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand, has found himself in a precarious position after being excluded from the BCCI’s central contract list. However, a recent conversation with BCCI secretary Jay Shah has sparked hope for a potential comeback.
Kishan’s exclusion from the contract list was a result of his reluctance to play first-class cricket. Despite repeated attempts by the Indian team management to involve him, he did not participate in any Ranji Trophy games this season. Instead, he opted to practice with his Mumbai Indians skipper, Hardik Pandya, in preparation for the IPL.
This decision ultimately cost him his contract, but Shah’s gesture of engaging in conversation with Kishan and national captain Rohit Sharma could be a sign of a potential thaw. While the contents of the discussion remain unknown, the fact that Shah, an influential figure in Indian cricket, is showing interest in Kishan is a positive development.
Kishan’s chances of a comeback in the T20 World Cup have dwindled in recent months, with Rishabh Pant back in contention and KL Rahul also expressing his desire to keep wickets. However, the IPL provides him with a massive opportunity to make a case for himself with consistent performances.
The presence of national captain Rohit during Shah’s conversation with Kishan is significant. It suggests that Kishan’s performance will be the primary factor in determining his future with the Indian team, despite his past attitude issues.
Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard has also expressed confidence in Kishan, stating that he is an “experienced” player within the setup and expects big things from him. With the selectors traveling to select IPL games to check on World Cup hopefuls, Kishan has a golden opportunity to prove his worth.
