Ishan Kishan returns to cricket with DY Patil T20 Cup appearance

In the ongoing DY Patil T20 Cup at the DY Patil University Ground in Navi Mumbai, India's wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan returned to competitive cricket on Tuesday, February 27. Playing for RBI, the southpaw showcased his skill behind the stumps, stumping Sumit Dhekale off Sayan Mondal’s delivery. However, his batting stint was brief, scoring 19 off 12 balls, including two boundaries and a six before being dismissed. Despite his efforts, Ishan's team suffered a hefty defeat of 89 runs against Route Mobile Limited.

Amidst scrutiny, he had faced criticism for missing Ranji Trophy fixtures, despite BCCI's directive mandating fit centrally contracted players to participate in domestic cricket. During his Ranji absence, the cricketer was caught training with Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda. His last appearance for India was in a T20I against Australia in Guwahati back in November 2023. Despite preceding half-centuries, he endured a duck in that match, marking a downturn after a promising series with the bat.

The Patna-born cricketer, initially picked for India's Test series in South Africa, withdrew due to personal reasons. Subsequently, he was not included in the squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan or the ongoing five-match Test series against England at home. India's head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed willingness for his comeback to the national team. Dravid had emphasised the importance of the 25-year-old resuming cricketing activities before being considered for selection.

Also Read: Reports: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan to be removed from BCCI's central contracts for missing Ranji Trophy matches

Hardik Pandya returns to competitive cricket  

Prior to Ishan's return, his Mumbai Indians skipper, Pandya, re-entered competitive cricket at the DY Patil T20 Cup. The all-rounder sustained an ankle injury during the 2023 World Cup against Bangladesh. Representing Reliance 1 against Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Pandya secured figures of 2 for 22 from 3 overs. He later batted at No. 11, tallying an unbeaten three off four deliveries, guiding Reliance 1 to a two-wicket victory over Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.