Can Ishan Kishan make his comeback in the ICT through Duleep Trophy?

Ishan Kishan has roared back into the game with a blazing century in the ongoing Buchi Babu Tournament. The 26-year-old wicket-keeper is leading the Jharkhand Cricket Association in the domestic series. Returning to the red-ball format after over a year, Kishan thrashed Madhya Pradesh in the match to register a 107-ball 114-run century. Kishan smashed 10 sixes and five fours to post 277 runs for Jharkhand in response to Madhya Pradesh’s 225. Kishan’s last red-ball game was in the India vs. Bangladesh Tests in July last year. His last assignment with the team was in November 2023 during Australia’s Tour of India. However, the young prospect has since fallen out of favor with the BCCI. Now, with his return to domestic cricket and the upcoming Duleep Trophy, Kishan seems to be tracking his way back into the Indian Cricket Team (ICT).

"Harsh steps taken by the board led the players to Duleep Trophy participation," says BCCI chief Jay Shah

The squads for the first round of the Duleep Trophy have been announced, and almost all the major players have been named. While the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah have been exempted from the domestic series, players such as Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan will take the field for the tournament, which is scheduled from September 5 to September 22.

Talking about the players turning up for the Duleep Trophy, Jay Shah noted that it is a result of the stern measures taken by the BCCI. Shah named Iyer and Kishan as players who returned to domestic cricket after facing the ire of the board. Shah also opened up about Jadeja’s inclusion in the circuit after an injury. He clearly laid down the expectations from the players, citing the need to perform at the domestic level to regain the BCCI’s trust moving forward.

“If you look at the Duleep Trophy squad, apart from Rohit and Virat, the rest are going to play. It's because of the harsh steps I have taken that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are playing in the Duleep Trophy," Jay Shah told Times of India.

"We have been a little strict. When Ravindra Jadeja got injured, I was the one who called him and asked him to play a domestic game. It's certain now: whoever gets injured and goes out can only return to the Indian team after proving their fitness in domestic cricket," he added.

The BCCI chief also opened up about the reason behind the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya from the upcoming series. These players will form the core of the Indian setup for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Moreover, with the World Test Championship (WTC) and Champions Trophy slated for the first half of next year, the board needs to ensure the full fitness of the above-mentioned players.

"It doesn't make sense to add to Virat and Rohit's workload by asking them to play domestic cricket. They run the risk of getting injured. You also need to look at England and Australia. None of their top players play domestic cricket. We must treat our players with respect and not treat them like servants," Jay Shah noted.

The road ahead for Ishan Kishan with the Indian Cricket Team

It’s a long road ahead for Kishan before he regains the BCCI’s confidence. Kishan assisted the Indian team in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he mostly warmed the bench. Following the series against Australia, Kishan opted out of the South Africa series, citing mental fatigue. The player was later seen partying in Dubai. Moreover, despite direct orders from the board, players like Kishan and Iyer opted out of domestic tournaments. As a result, both Kishan and Iyer lost their central contracts with the BCCI. Now, months later, Kishan has made himself available for domestic tournaments, starting with the Buchi Babu Tournament.

The wicket-keeper has also earned a spot in the 61-member squad for the Duleep Trophy starting in September this year. Kishan, along with Shreyas Iyer, is part of Team D, with the latter selected as the team’s captain. Following Kishan’s positive return to the domestic circuit, BCCI secretary Jay Shah discussed the cricketer’s chances with the ICT. Speaking on the matter, Shah clarified that Kishan, along with other youngsters, will need to follow the rules and prove their mettle in domestic tournaments.

“He will have to follow the rules. He will have to play domestic cricket,” Shah told Times of India.

With the Bangladesh Tests scheduled for September, Kishan’s domestic performance will determine whether he can secure a place in the red-ball squad. While the wicket-keeper has started his comeback with a spectacular century in the Buchi Babu Tournament, Kishan will need to maintain this performance in the Duleep Trophy to regain the trust of the selectors and the BCCI.