India’s explosive wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan, only the fourth from the country to have scored an ODI double century very recently on their tour of Bangladesh, is elated on his maiden call-up to the Test side to face the mighty Australia in their backyard starting February 9.
India are yet to finalise their wicket-keeper batsman for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 despite KL Rahul being a member of the squad, with the question over the spot rising after the regular choice in Rishabh Pant met an unfortunate car accident late in December.
Ishan Kishan, an explosive batsman by nature, began his ODI and T20I careers respectively by hitting the very first balls that he faced to the fence. However, the left-handed batsman is cautious to not be drawn into what he calls “youngster’s trait” and values his wicket in the longest format which he also feels is the toughest of all.
The young wicketkeeper-batsman, who plays for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on a hefty paycheque, featured in a video interview conducted by fellow opening batsman Shubman Gill on the BCCI website. Ishan Kishan said in the video,
“I do think about [hitting] fours and sixes but there is a lot of difference in white-ball and red-ball cricket. In white-ball, if you walk out to bat at no. 6 there is no swing. But with the red ball, bowlers use the swing and you have to use your brain instead of showing your youngsters’ trait.”
“With experience, I know it is not about fours and sixes [in red-ball cricket] but about getting the team in a good situation. If the ball is in my zone and the field is up then I will try. But if the bowling is good, I will look to respect it,”
Ishan Kishan said.
Ishan Kishan, who has done well for his state side Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2022-23, says that Test cricket is the ultimate challenge for a player.
“When I was playing white-ball cricket, my father used to say Tests are the real deal where the batter is challenged and their skill is put to test. It is a big deal to play Test cricket. When I got to know of my selection in India’s Test squad I was elated and called home [to give the news], because there are so many good players… Test cricket is considered to bring out your real skill and real game. I will try to win games for India if given a chance,”
he said.
Ishan Kishan added,
”I love playing with the red ball. There is a bit of swing, there is sledging and lots of time [there is] no pressure to score runs. The situations are sometimes easy and sometimes tough. So I enjoy all those scenarios in the Ranji Trophy.”