Out-of-favour India player Ishan Kishan underlined the importance of the Ranji Trophy after he smashed an unbeaten 125 on Day 1 of India’s premier first-class tournament against Tamil Nadu in Coimbatore.
Captaining Jharkhand, Ishan led from the front and helped his team recover from 154/6 to end Day 1 on 307/6. The left-hand batter constructed his innings beautifully alongside Sahil Raj, who made 77.
“You need to understand the importance of the Ranji Trophy,” he told The Indian Express. “You need to understand the importance of these matches when you play against big teams.”
Having last played a Test match for India in 2023, Ishan has slipped down the pecking order. Last year was a controversial one for him. After being a regular part of the team, he was omitted from the central contract list along with Shreyas Iyer. Ishan has learned his lessons and is now solely focused on spending time in the middle and playing game-changing knocks.
“You make so many mistakes early in your career, and then later you realise the real meaning of experience,” he said. “You have to be in the middle, and only then can you change the game.”
Reflecting on his hundred against Tamil Nadu in unfamiliar conditions, Ishan said: “I was checking the wind when the left-arm spinner was bowling. I really wanted to go hard against him, but looking at the scoreboard, with six wickets down, it didn’t feel right to take that risk. I did it [bat with caution] once in the Irani Cup, and here in the Ranji Trophy, where I’m the experienced and only India player in the team, my job was to ensure we were still batting at stumps.”
The Jharkhand skipper top-scored for his team with 173 in the first innings. His knock was laced with 15 fours and six sixes.
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