Ishan Kishan to Lead Jharkhand in Buchi Babu Trophy, Eyeing Ranji Trophy Return
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will captain Jharkhand in the upcoming Buchi Babu Trophy, a pre-season red-ball tournament in Tamil Nadu starting on August 15. Kishan, who was not initially part of Jharkhand’s squad, will join the team in Chennai on Wednesday, marking his return to first-class cricket.
This move is seen as the first step towards Kishan’s full-fledged comeback to the Ranji Trophy fold, which is expected during the 2024-25 season. The 100-ball cricket star has informed the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) of his desire to return to the domestic red-ball format.
“With Ishan, it was never about ability,” a JSCA official said. “It was only about whether he was ready to return. The decision was with him. When he was not included in the initial list, it was only because we hadn’t heard from him. The moment he expressed his keenness to return, he was drafted in.”
Kishan’s last first-class game was in December 2022, and he had stayed away from the Ranji Trophy towards the end of the 2023-24 season. This absence proved costly, as the BCCI removed him from the central contracts list for not prioritizing club cricket.
Comeback Aims to Regain National Spot
Kishan’s comeback to red-ball cricket comes as India prepares for a busy Test schedule, comprising 10 matches over the next five months. However, his path to a national team recall won’t be easy, as he finds himself behind Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel in the Test-match queue.
The 25-year-old made his Test debut during India’s tour of the West Indies last year, but his last first-class appearance was the second Test of that Caribbean series in July 2023. He was also part of India’s ODI World Cup squad in 2023, featuring in two matches.
Kishan, who previously held a Grade C contract with the BCCI, hopes to use the Buchi Babu Trophy and the upcoming Ranji Trophy season to regain his spot in the national setup.
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