15.25 crores. The figure is such that it would send a chill down anyone’s spine. And when a young man of 23 has to justify this price tag, it can just turn into the kind of pressure that’s too much to bear. First of all, Ishan Kishan did not negotiate the price. His franchise saw enough in him to pay that amount, and he had no say in it. So for anyone to say, ‘Oh he was paid 15 crores’ is actually unfair on the young man. Secondly, Kishan has had to do everything he can to forget the extra-cricketing factors as he walked out to bat for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
The best thing for him was that he had Rohit Sharma, his captain, for company. Rohit, one of the best thinkers around, helped Ishan deal with the pressure. And that, may I say, was the key. Kishan has been allowed to express himself just like any other player, without the burden of being one of the IPL’s most expensive stars.
That’s what forces me to ask the question: how difficult is it for someone like him? While it is fantastic for the player and his family to be paid 15.25 crores, once the dust settles, it can be a huge distraction to deal with. All of a sudden, people start to expect the world from Kishan. It is as if he has to do extraordinary things in every game on account of being paid 15 crores a season. The truth is that Kishan as a player hasn’t changed. Only the money he received at the auction did. And that’s all there is to it. He remains essentially the same player he was in 2022. He continues to strive to get better, and that’s all he can do.
Also Read: How Mumbai Indians Got Their Groove Back
IPL 2022 was a test of his temperament. He was modest at best. This season has been yet another examination. Being included in the squad for the World Test Championship final only heaped more pressure of expectation on him. Add in an almost must-win game against Lucknow Super Giants on a difficult wicket, and it clearly couldn’t have been easy for Kishan. To what extent could he cocoon himself from the outside pressures and look inward? All he needed to do was focus on his cricket, and leave out the noise. Easier said than done. When social-media trolls are at it all the time, questioning you 24×7, things can get to you, more often than not.
While this is easy to say and write, it is certainly not easy to do in real life when intrusiveness is at an all-time high. That’s why his 59 off 39 balls was testament to what he is capable of. His ability to handle pressure, and deliver the goods for Mumbai. Yes, some will say that on a wicket where run-scoring isn’t easy, Kishan, the set batter, should have stayed till the end and closed out the game. Fair point too. But all that is in hindsight. Before that final over, with Tim David and Cam Green needing to score 11 against Mohsin Khan, the vast majority would have called the game in favour of Mumbai. But then, that’s sport. It never ceases to amaze you.
#IshanKishan and #RohitSharma share an unbeaten 50-run stand for the opening wicket, in just over 5 overs. #lsgvmi #ipl2023 pic.twitter.com/g52aPJCWmv
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) May 16, 2023
Whatever happens from here on in the competition, Kishan will be a more mature cricketer after this IPL. A more evolved person better equipped to deal with the world. And that, at the end of the day, is a far bigger life lesson than anything else.
We don’t know if Mumbai will now make the play offs. They play Sunrisers Hyderbad at home in the penultimate game of the group stage on May 21, and we might have to wait for the RCB game later in the evening to know the final four. We also don’t know if Kishan he will get an opportunity to play the WTC final. Nor do we know if he can stand up to the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
But what we do know is that KIshan is used to handling pressure. And that, more than anything else, gives us hope. A Rishabh Pant-like innings from him could well make a difference for India at The Oval. Just like it could have for Mumbai on Tuesday night, had Green and David been able to finish the chase. Kishan, it must be said, has delivered for Mumbai this IPL. Can he now step up to an even bigger stage?