Ishan Kishan, excluded from central contracts earlier this year, showcased a stunning century for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Trophy on August 16, signaling a return to form ahead of the Duleep Trophy.
New Delhi: Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, omitted from central contracts earlier this year for not making appearances in Ranji Trophy matches for Jharkhand, was in rampant form on August 16. Turning up for Jharkhand in Buchi Babu Trophy, Kishan made telling contributions—first impressing with the gloves on hand on the opening day against Madhya Pradesh and later grabbing headlines with a stellar batting performance on Day 2.
The 26-year-old batsman hit a century for Jharkhand on the second day of the match. Opening his account at No. 6, Kishan took 61 balls to reach his fifty and later showed increased aggression to get to his hundred in 86 balls. A video going viral on social media shows Kishan hitting back-to-back sixes to raise his hundred, which further indicated his return to form after the earlier omission from central contracts.
Ishan Kishan hits back to back sixes to reach 86 ball century in Buchi Babu tournament. 🤯
– Welcome back, Kishan…!!! ⭐pic.twitter.com/a7Nw1hgs7H
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 16, 2024
In doing so, Ishan Kishan used 107 balls to strike 114, five fours and ten sixes.
Following the Buchi Babu Trophy, Kishan will take part in the Duleep Trophy commencing September 5. The India D team he will represent will be led by Shreyas Iyer.
Ishan Kishan has represented India across all three formats. He made his T20I debut against England in March 2021, scoring a fifty in his first match. His ODI debut came in July 2021 against Sri Lanka, where he began his innings with a six. Kishan also had the opportunity to play Test cricket during a two-match series against the West Indies last year.
Ishan Kishan was part of the Indian squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup under Virat Kohli but did not progress past the Super 8s stage. He made his ODI World Cup debut against Australia in Chennai on October 8, 2023, but did not score in that match. His most recent appearance for India was on November 28, 2023, in Guwahati during the third T20I of the series against Australia, led by Suryakumar Yadav. Kishan withdrew from the Test series against South Africa last year due to personal reasons and was not selected for the five-match Test series against England earlier this year.