Ishan Kishan, the young wicketkeeper-batter of Team India, won’t play in the imminent Test series against South Africa. The reason is mental exhaustion, suggests recent news. Even though the 25-year-old is continually on tour with the Indian squad in the past year, he often doesn’t perform in the games.
The Boxing Day Test against South Africa will kick off the two-match Test series at SuperSport Park in Centurion on December 26, and Ishan Kishan was part of the team. Yet, on December 17, BCCI confirmed in an announcement that the player had been cut off from the Test squad. He verbally expressed his wish to detach for personal matters.
According to the Indian Express, the keeper-batter requested a vacation from the Indian team management last week in South Africa since he had been traveling nonstop for the previous year. Following that, the team management met with the selectors, who agreed to Kishan’s request.
“He informed the team management that he is having mental fatigue and wants a break from cricket for some time. Everyone agreed to it,” a source told the paper.
Ishan Kishan’s replacement in the Test team has been named as KS Bharat.
Ishan Kishan’s performance in 2023
Ishan Kishan has played two Tests, 17 ODIs, and 11 T20Is since the start of 2023. He has, however, participated in practically every series that India has played since the beginning of the year.
During the West Indies tour in July, the left-handed hitter made his Test debut. He batted well, getting an undefeated 52 in Port of Spain. Ishan Kishan also performed admirably while wearing gloves.
He knocked out 456 runs across 17 ODI matches in 2023, averaging 35.07, peaking at 82. His prowess earned him four half-centuries this year. With Gill sidelined due to dengue, Kishan stepped up for Team India’s initial two ODI World Cup games. His scorecards read 0 versus Australia and 47 against Afghanistan.
As for his T20I scoreline in 2023, he accumulated 207 runs, averaging at about 18.81. He played in the opening three matches of the T20I series against Australia at home, racking up 58 and 52 runs in the opening pair of games, only to have no run in the third game.
Ishan Kishan was part of the T20I team in South Africa, however Jitesh Sharma was chosen ahead of him as the keeper-batter.