Felt quite bad because I was doing well: Ishan Kishan breaks silence on prolonged Team India snub

NEW DELHI: Out-of-favour India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan delivered a statement performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final on Thursday, smashing a breathtaking 101 off just 49 balls to lead Jharkhand to their maiden title and finally breaking his silence on his prolonged absence from Team India.

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Kishan, captaining Jharkhand, led from the front on a day to remember as his side posted a daunting 262 for 3 against Haryana before sealing a commanding 69-run victory. It marked a fitting end to a sensational tournament for the 27-year-old, who finished as the leading run-scorer with 517 runs from 10 innings at a staggering strike rate of 197.32.

Having been sidelined from the national team since 2023 following disciplinary issues under then head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Kishan admitted the phase had been mentally challenging.

“When I was not selected in the Indian team, I felt quite bad because I was doing well,” Kishan was quoted as saying by Sportstar. “But I told myself that if I am not selected with this sort of performance, then maybe I have to do more. Maybe I have to make my team win. Maybe we have to do well as a unit.”

The left-hander emphasised the importance of handling frustration during setbacks. “Its important that you dont allow the frustration to get to you. This is my message to all the youngsters — frustration is something that will take you one step down. You need to put in a lot of hard work, believe in yourself and focus on what you need to achieve,” he said.

Despite his red-hot form, Kishan is unlikely to be recalled for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, he insisted he is no longer weighed down by expectations. “I know you fancy your chances a lot of times. And when you dont see your name, you just feel bad about it. So, Im not in that zone anymore. Im not expecting anything,” he said with a smile. “But my job is to just keep performing.”

In the final, Kishan tore into the Haryana bowling attack, hammering 10 sixes and eight fours, and bringing up his second century of the tournament with a stylish one-handed six over extra cover. He shared a decisive 177-run second-wicket stand with Kumar Kushagra, who struck a rapid 81 off 38 balls.

Jharkhand bowlers, led by Anukul Roy, then dismantled Haryanas chase, bowling them out for 193 despite a fighting fifty from Yashvardhan Dalal.

For Kishan, the title triumph stands tall among his career highlights. “It is definitely the happiest moment because we have never won a domestic tournament under my captaincy,” he said. “Now, I have more trust in myself, more belief in my batting.”

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