On Tuesday, February 27 at the DY Patil University Ground in Navi Mumbai, Team India keeper-batsman Ishan Kishan returned to competitive cricket in the current DY Patil T20 Cup.
The 25-year-old from RBI stumped Sumit Dhekale off seamer Sayan Mondal’s bowling. However, with the bat, he was bowled for 19 off 12 balls, having smashed two fours and a six. Ishan Kishan’s squad finally lost to Route Mobile Limited by 89 runs.
Ishan Kishan has come under fire for skipping Ranji Trophy matches, despite the BCCI’s unambiguous directives that centrally paid players must play domestic cricket if fit. During his hiatus, the cricketer allegedly trained with Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda.
In Kishan’s return match, Route Mobile Limited batted first and scored 192/8 off 20 overs. Aayush Vartan hit 54 off 31 balls, with Dhekale contributing 42. In response, RBI were bowled out for 103 in 16.3 overs. Badrey Alam performed admirably for Route, scoring 5/20.
Ishan Kishan last played for India in a Twenty20 International against Australia in Guwahati in November 2023. After scoring half-centuries in the previous two innings of the series, he was removed for a duck in this one.
The left-handed batter was picked in the Indian team for the two-match Test series in South Africa, but he later pulled out citing personal reasons. Subsequently, Ishan Kishan did not find a place in India’s squad for the T20I series at home against Afghanistan as well as the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
Before Kishan, Pandya, the Mumbai Indians skipper, returned to competitive cricket in the DY Patil T20 Cup. The all-rounder, who hurt his ankle during the 2023 World Cup league match against Bangladesh, took 2/22 from three overs while playing for Reliance 1 against Bharat Petroleum Corporation.
Hardik Pandya then batted at number 11 and got 3* off four as Reliance 1 defeated Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited by two wickets.
Dhruv Jurel’s impressive debut puts Ishan Kishan’s Test future in doubt
In Rishabh Pant’s absence, India gave Ishan Kishan his Test debut in the West Indies last year after KS Bharat failed to seize his opportunity. at the series’ second Test at Port of Spain, the Jharkhand cricketer struck an amazing half-century.
KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel were selected as keeper-batters after he was ruled out of the home Tests against England. While the former has continued to fail, Dhruv Jurel took advantage of his opportunities and won the Player of the Match award in Ranchi. He hit 90 and 39* in his two innings to lead India to a series victory.
