Ishan Kishan made a triumphant return to red-ball cricket in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, delivering a match-winning performance that secured a narrow victory for Jharkhand over Madhya Pradesh. Earlier this year, Kishan found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, having been left out of the BCCI central contracts due to his absence from Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy campaign. However, he rejoined his state team for the upcoming domestic season, and in the tournament’s opening match, he made an emphatic statement with his bat.
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Kishan set the pace with a brilliant century, scoring 114 runs off just 107 balls, which was crucial in giving Jharkhand a 64-run lead in the first innings. But the game became tense when Jharkhand, chasing a modest target of 174, experienced a middle-order collapse. After a solid start at 65/1, the team crumbled, losing five wickets for just 70 runs. With only two wickets in hand and 12 runs needed to win, the match hung in the balance.
Kishan, showcasing his experience and composure, held his nerve and anchored the innings when his team needed it the most. He demonstrated the qualities that have earned him a place in the Indian squad, calmly steering Jharkhand to a dramatic victory.
In the 55th over, facing spinner Akash Rajawat, Kishan decisively swung the game in Jharkhand’s favor by smashing two massive sixes on the second and fourth deliveries, sealing a victorious start to the tournament. Kishan has been out of the Indian team since December last year, when he left the South Africa tour midway, reportedly due to fatigue. Then-head coach Rahul Dravid later mentioned that Kishan had made himself unavailable for selection. Despite BCCI’s instructions for players to focus on the Ranji Trophy, Kishan opted to train with Hardik Pandya in Baroda ahead of the IPL season instead. His decision led to his exclusion from the BCCI contract list, and a disappointing IPL season with Mumbai Indians followed, as the team finished last.
However, recent reports from Cricbuzz suggest that Kishan was advised to return to domestic cricket to regain his spot in the Indian team. His performance in the Buchi Babu tournament is a strong first step in that direction.
