Ishan Kishan Celebrates Comeback With One-Handed Six For Century

Ishan Kishan marked his return to domestic cricket with a century against Madhya Pradesh in the Buchi Babu Tournament on August 16. The 26-year-old reached his hundred in just 86 balls.

In the early stages of the match, Madhya Pradesh were dismissed for 225, with Shubham S Kushwah scoring 84 runs. Jharkhand's Saurabh Shekhar took three wickets for 35 runs. By the end of Day 2, Jharkhand had scored 277/7, leading by 51 runs.

A fan commented on Ishan Kishan's performance, saying, "It is not a comeback, it is what it has always been. Comeback toh downfall hone pe hota hai. Par cricket mein toh downfall hua hi nahi. Woh tab bhi marta tha, aur ab bhi marta hai."

Bihar_se_hai (@Bihar_se_hai) August 16, 2024

Ishan Kishan scored only 14 runs off his first 36 balls but then accelerated to score 36 runs in the next 24 deliveries. He reached his century by hitting two consecutive hundreds and was eventually dismissed for 114 off 107 balls.

Notably, Ishan Kishan has not played for India since November 2023. He opted out of the South Africa Tests due to mental fatigue and frustration over limited opportunities despite being part of the squad.

Ignoring BCCI's advice to play domestic cricket before returning to the national team led to him losing his central contract. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has emphasized that players must participate in domestic cricket when not on national duty.

"He will have to follow the rules. He will have to play domestic cricket," Shah told Times of India in a recent interview.

Future Prospects

Ishan Kishan has also been included in Shreyas Iyer's Team D for the Duleep Trophy 2024. His century in the Buchi Babu Tournament and participation in the upcoming Duleep Trophy matches from September 5 make him a strong contender for India's Test series against Bangladesh starting September 19.

Ishan Kishan's return aligns with BCCI's strict stance on international players prioritising domestic cricket when not representing India. This approach ensures players remain competitive and ready for national selection.