India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan’s strong return to domestic red-ball cricket has sparked rumors of a possible national team comeback since his last appearance in December 2023.
After hitting centuries in both the Buchi Babu pre-season tournament and the Duleep Trophy, reports suggest Ishan could be considered for the upcoming home T20I series against Bangladesh next month. However, a recent BCCI selection decision has left his chances uncertain.
Earlier this month, Ishan impressed in his first-class return with a century for India C in the Duleep Trophy, following his Test debut tour of West Indies where he scored a half-century.
Despite being retained for the South Africa tour in late 2023, Ishan opted out due to mental health reasons and was later dropped from BCCI’s central contract for not participating in domestic matches during his break from the national team.
A PTI report hinted Ishan might get a chance in the Bangladesh T20I series, scheduled for October 6-12, as Rishabh Pant is expected to be rested for workload management.
However, Ishan was also named in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup match against Mumbai, running from October 1 to 5 in Lucknow. This gives him a shot at securing a spot in the Indian Test team for the home series against New Zealand but limits his opportunity to play in the Bangladesh T20Is.
The report suggests that Ishan’s T20I selection hinges on the Rest of India management’s choice. If Dhruv Jurel, another wicketkeeper-batter, starts in the Irani Cup, Ishan could still be in contention as the second wicketkeeper for the Bangladesh series alongside Sanju Samson.
Additionally, key players like Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh are not included in the Rest of India squad as they are expected to be selected for the T20Is.