Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is all set to lead Jharkhand in the upcoming Buchi Babu Invitational tournament. The southpaw, who has been out of the favour of the selectors for a while now, will commence his journey towards making a comeback for India with the domestic season.
Ishan Kishan to captain Jharkhand in Buchi Babu tournament
As per ESPNCricinfo, Ishan Kishan will join the team in Chennai on Wednesday despite not being named in the original list. The report states that the keeper-batter was drafted in after he communicated his interest to participate to the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA).
Kishan is also expected to play the upcoming Ranji Trophy season as well, marking his full-fledged return to first-class cricket. He last played his first-class game in 2022 following which he stayed away from Ranji Trophy in 2023.
In 2024, he refused to participate in domestic cricket, leading to a snub from the BCCI Central Contract list and the Indian team across formats.
“With Ishan, it was never about ability,” a JSCA functionary said. “It was only about whether he was ready to return. The decision was with him. When he was not included in the initial list, it was only because we hadn’t heard from him.”
Earlier, reports stated that the selectors wanted Ishan Kishan to resume playing the red-ball format in domestic cricket in order to consider him as a contender for a spot in the Indian team. However, he faces a steep challenge on making his comeback to the Indian side, considering the cut-throat comptetition in place.
