East Zone captain Ishan Kishan etched his name in the record books by smashing a magnificent double century during the Duleep Trophy final. He has become the first Indian batter to achieve this milestone in the final of the prestigious tournament. This remarkable knock against South Asian bowlers has forced selectors to seriously rethink his red-ball credentials. His previous appearance in the purest format for the national side came back in 2023 against the West Indies.
The South Africa Tour Turning Point
In December 2023, the Indian squad traveled to South Africa, with Kishan included in the touring party. However, he abruptly announced a break and withdrew from the series, paving the way for KS Bharat to replace him. This departure marked the beginning of a turbulent phase in his professional career. It was widely reported that his decision stemmed from continuous omission from the starting lineup during the tour.
When Kishan requested time off, then-head coach Rahul Dravid granted permission with a clear directive to play domestic red-ball cricket in the Ranji Trophy. Despite the advice, he opted to skip the tournament. Around the same time, preparations for the Indian Premier League were underway, and Kishan was spotted training alongside Hardik Pandya ahead of the T20 league.
Board Clash and Central Contract Snub
The disregard for domestic fixtures did not sit well with the national selectors and board management, especially given the strict mandates requiring players to participate in domestic matches to earn selection. Amidst the rising tensions, the annual central contracts were announced, and Kishan was left off the list alongside Shreyas Iyer, who faced similar scrutiny for skipping domestic games under the guise of an injury.
Consequently, Kishan was dropped from the Test squad and subsequently lost his place in the ODI and T20 setups as well. Months passed without any consideration for his selection, leading many to believe his international days were numbered. The presence of formidable wicketkeeper-batter options like Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Sanju Samson, and KL Rahul made a comeback appear improbable.
Domestic Dominance Revives Career
Left with limited options after being sidelined across formats, Kishan returned to domestic cricket representing Jharkhand. The Syed Muthaq Ali Trophy proved to be the turning point as he led Jharkhand to a championship victory while displaying exceptional batting form. He followed up this domestic success with stellar performances in the IPL.
Ultimately, his relentless run-scoring forced selectors to recall him for the T20 series against New Zealand in January 2026. Making the most of his second chance, he scored a century in just his fourth match back. Having re-established himself in white-ball cricket, his latest double century in the Duleep Trophy final underlines his readiness to reclaim a spot in the Test team.
