Ishan Kishan is all set to lead Jharkhand in the upcoming Buchi Babu Trophy, a pre-season tournament in Tamil Nadu which will be starting from 15 August. Ishan Kishan did not play domestic cricket for quite long but now this would be his first step in return towards first-class cricket. He’ll join the squad in Chennai on Wednesday.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Ishan Kishan decided to participate and communicated the same to Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA).

Ishan Kishan’s prolonged absence from Ranji Trophy will come to an end as he is expected to return for the 2024-25 season. His last game was in December 2022. The repercussions for his domestic cricket absence were quite heavy as the wicket-keeper batsmen was removed from the central contract list by BCCI.

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“With Ishan, it was never about ability,” a JSCA functionary said. “It was only about whether he was ready to return. The decision was with him. When he was not included in the initial list, it was only because we hadn’t heard from him. The moment he expressed his keenness to return, he was drafted in.”

Team India will be preparing for a gruelling Test season which has 10 games in the next five months, Ishan made his debut during the India’s tour of West Indies last year. He was even picked up for India’s South Africa tour for the Test series but he opted out after citing mental fatigue.

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Further Ishan Kishan missed the whole Ranji season and chose to train with Hardik Pandya privately. Now that Rishabh Pant is back in action and retained his spot in the Indian Team it would be even more difficult for Ishan to make the cut. He has featured in two Tests, 17 ODIs, and 11 T20Is in 2023.