The new Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season kick starts and this time there is no revolt from Ishan Kishan. In fact, the destructive southpaw is all set to lead Jharkhand as the captain of the side. In fact, the imperative will be on Kishan to perform well as it can greatly enhance his chance of making it to the upcoming India vs Australia Test series.
Furthermore, it will be a good chance of redemption for Ishan Kishan. After Rishabh Pant’s horrific car crash, Ishan Kishan was the good-to keeper for India for over a year. However, after the ODI World Cup, Kishan took a break from games citing mental fatigue and withdrew midway from the South Africa tour.
Kishan remained aloof and failed to play domestic cricket despite being repeatedly instructed by the BCCI. He took part in the DY Patil tournament before IPL 2024 and was snubbed off his BCCI Central Contract for the ongoing year. But now, things can take a turn. Should Ishan perform well, he might just get a chance to make a comeback into the Indian Cricket Team.
How can Ishan Kishan make a comeback?
The India Cricket Team will be next taking on New Zealand for a 3-match Test series. Following this, the next big assignment will be the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. As for the opener’s spot, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the two designated openers.
Reports claim that Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the backup opener in the team. However, Bengal batter Abhimanyu Eashwaran’s stunning form in domestic cricket also makes him a strong contender. The Bengal Ranji Team opener will also be a part of the India A squad which will shadow tour Australia.
While both Ruturaj and Abhimanyu provide an option as openers, they, however, are right-handed batters. There is in fact no replacement for Yashasvi Jaiswal. And this is exactly where Ishan Kishan can fit in. Not only can Ishan open for India, but he can also play down the middle.
Furthermore, Kishan is also an able wicketkeeper and thus can also provide stiff competition to both Rishabh ant Pant and Dhruv Jurel. While it is not guaranteed that Ishan will get a chance in the India squad, since the southpaw has been playing well in domestic cricket off late, a strong string of performances in the Ranji Trophy can greatly enhance his chances for a Team India comeback.
