If there is an equally mysterious chapter in Indian cricket after Virat Kohli's absence, it is Ishan Kishan and his little break. All kinds of stories have been created around him ever since he was not selected for the Afghanistan T20I and was subsequently released by the South African squad. From reports that he found himself in no-man's land during India's T20I captaincy, to distrust of the team management and allegations that he did not show the right spirit towards other players selected in his place. All in all, Ishan's name has been at the center of the storm for some time now. Two months have passed with various conspiracy theories flying around.
Finally, the situation around Ishan seems to have become clearer. The Indian Express reports that Ishan has indeed requested a break citing mental fatigue and is on track to return to India. For the past month or so, Ishan has been training in Baroda with Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, while also spending time with his family who are helping him get back on his feet. The newspaper said that Ishan has been staying in Vadodara for the past one month because he has rented a 2BHK flat and is staying with his family.
Always on the road, Ishan asked for some time off after the World Cup campaign, but that was not granted. He scored back-to-back fifties against Australia, but was not keen on playing in the series a few days after the World Cup as he was still recovering from the loss to India in the final. Before the South Africa series, Ishan again made his intentions clear, but to no avail. Finally, he was dismissed during India's series against the Proteas. Too many trips and outings were taking a toll on Ishan.
“He never complained about it, but the ODI World Cup final defeat in Ahmedabad devastated him, as did billions of people in our country. He wanted a break right after, but the management asked him to play, which he did without. “He tried to train his body and mind, but mental fatigue caught up with him and Only then did he ask for a break,'' The Indian Express quoted sources as saying.
BCCI directive is not aimed at Ishan
The BCCI's clear message that all players need to prioritize the Ranji Trophy was thought to be aimed at Ishan, but that is not true. The board is well aware of Mr. Ishan's condition and respects his decision. When asked about Ishan ahead of the India vs England Test series, India head coach Rahul Dravid said the youngster will be available for selection before making a U-turn immediately after the Visakhapatnam Test. He said there is a need to play domestic cricket.
Later, when Ishan and another Indian cricketer Deepak Chahar did not play in the Ranji Trophy matches for their respective teams, the BCCI, in a harsh statement, said that certain players were already in “IPL mindset”. He pointed out that Japan's players need to be aware of this. Cricket remains a “key criterion for selection” and will only lead to a signal for Ishan. As sources revealed, this also couldn't be further from the truth.
“Ishan has always prioritized the Ranji Trophy. In the 2022-23 season, he was always accompanying the Indian cricket team and despite his hectic schedule, he played in several Ranji Trophy matches. He scored a hundred against Kerala. That helped him. “He could have been included in the Indian Test team. All these accusations are rubbish.”
Although there is no official statement yet, the report concludes that Ishan is getting ready to hit the ground running and could possibly make a return to professional cricket through the DY Patil T20 tournament, resulting in his IPL detention. He says he can push his cause forward. In preparation for the T20 World Cup.