'If you don't take it now, when will you?' - Ishan Kishan explains how Jharkhand captaincy helped him

Ishan Kishan reflected on how accepting the captaincy of Jharkhand in 2024 shaped his development as a cricketer, leader and individual. The wicketkeeper-batter took on the role after a challenging period that included losing his BCCI central contract in late 2023. His decision to return to his state side and embrace leadership marked a turning point in his career trajectory.

Kishan described the profound impact of the captaincy experience on his mindset and approach to the game, according to Business Standard. He has since returned to the India setup in white-ball formats, but credits the domestic leadership role with enabling that comeback. His recent performances, including a significant innings of 270 in the Duleep Trophy final, underscored his renewed focus and commitment.

"You have to take responsibility. If you don't take it now, when will you? It's not like I am a 22-year-old and have just broken into the team. When we were very young, we used to rely on our senior players to score runs and thought we would just support them," Kishan said during the post-Day 2 press conference.

"But now, being an established part of the squad, I feel it is crucial that I take up the primary role of scoring runs and making sure the team's total climbs because of me. Going through this whole process leads to immense personal growth, and while you might not realise it immediately, your mindset shifts completely, and you become much calmer about things," he added.

The mindset shift that captaincy brings

Kishan opined that situational awareness is paramount for a captain and emphasised the need to take care of everyone in the team.

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"I think when you are the captain of the team, the first thing is situational awareness...you have to stay alert the entire day on the field to understand what is happening and what isn't. You have to take care of all your teammates," Kishan said.

"But when you are the captain, it becomes your duty to help them, because if your teammates are improving, ultimately you will achieve the team's goals," he added.