New Delhi: Ishan Kishan has completed ten months in international exile having last played for the Indian team in November last year. However, the wicket-keeper batter doesn’t look too far from getting a recall in the Indian team as he continues to progress in the right direction. Kishan was on Tuesday selected in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup, a major hint that his India comeback might be around the corner.
Kishan had to deal with a turbulent few months earlier this year after being excluded from the BCCI central contracts list for not prioritising domestic cricket when not on national duty. There were also reports that the selectors were not happy with the wicket-keeper batter, who had opted for a mental health break midway through the South Africa tour of India last year to return home and was later spotted partying in Dubai.
Despite being snubbed from one tournament after another, Kishan took his time to make a strong comeback to competitive cricket. He slammed a brilliant ton for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Trophy before announcing his arrival in style in the Duleep Trophy. Playing for India C, Kishan notched up a sublime knock of 111 runs against Inda B on his first-class comeback.
India comeback on the cards?
Kishan has not put a foot wrong ever since his comeback and has been scoring runs with great consistency. His selection in the Irani Cup can be a hint that his India comeback is on the cards. After being completely sidelined from the Indian team towards the end of former head coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure, Kishan seems to have found a new lease of life.
Current India head coach Gautam Gambhir is said to be a fan of the swashbuckling left-hander and has praised him on several occasions in the past. With Gambhir’s support, Kishan can soon return to the mix for India in white-ball cricket. If Rishabh Pant is rested from the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh to manage his workload considering the long Test season ahead, Kishan is favourite to take the wicket-keeper’s slot in the T20 squad.
Ishan Kishan over Dhruv Jurel for Rest of India?
Kishan has been named in the Rest of India squad alongside young wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel, who is currently part of India’s squad for the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. Jurel was not selected in India’s playing XI for the 1st Test against Bangladesh in Chennai with Rishabh Pant making his Test comeback after nearly 20 months.
Jurel’s availability in the Irani Trophy is subject to his selection in India’s playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. However, it remains unlikely that he will be able to pip Pant. Thus Jurel, in all likelihood, will link up with the Rest of India squad for their Irani Cup clash against Mumbai which gets underway on October 01.
However, despite Jurel’s availability, Kishan is expected to be the first-choice wicket-keeper for the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Rest of India team. Kishan’s recent performances in the Duleep Trophy and the Buchi Babu tournament augurs well for the Rest of India who will take on the Ranji champions Mumbai.
Ishan Kishan doesn’t seem too far away from a recall in the Indian squad as he continues to progress in the right direction. The wicket-keeper batter was on Tuesday named in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
