After losing his BCCI contract, Ishan Kishan made a strong comeback with a century vs Afghanistan. He rebuilt form through domestic cricket and IPL, earning a return to India’s white-ball setup and completing a notable redemption arc for the wicketkeeper-batter.
When life gives you a second chance, grab it like it’s your last shot, and Ishan Kishan’s redemption has been nothing short of a masterclass in proving critics wrong. Recently, the southpaw made a strong statement in the second ODI against Afghanistan at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, June 17.
Ishan Kishan played a blistering knock of 125 off 79 balls, including 14 fours and 7 sixes, at an impressive strike rate of 158.23. In the series opener, the 27-year-old showed a glimpse of his returning rhythm with a brisk 34 off 22 balls, but in the second ODI, he truly seized the spotlight with his natural aggressive batting.
Sticking to his attacking style of cricket, he didn't just capitalize on the batting-friendly conditions in Lucknow but also dismantled the Afghan bowling attack with surgical precision. By seamlessly transitioning from his trademark aggressive powerplay approach to building a substantial innings, Kishan has sent an unmistakable message to the selectors.
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From Setback to Statement: The Rebirth of Ishan Kishan
Back in 2024, Ishan Kishan’s career hit a roadblock after he was stripped of his BCCI central contract after failing to adhere to the board’s direction to play domestic cricket to be considered for national selection. It appeared that Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter’s international future was hanging by a thread, with the door to the national side seemingly slammed shut.
Even in IPL 2024, playing for the Mumbai Indians, Ishan struggled to find a consistent rhythm, as he aggregated 320 runs, including a fifty, at an average of 22.85 in 14 matches. However, things began to shift dramatically in the months that followed. The southpaw’s focus on refining his batting technique and his patience in building an innings across all formats proved to be the missing link.
Ishan treated the domestic cricket, whether it be Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali, or Vijay Hazare Trophy, with the intensity of an international match. 2025 was the year when Ishan Kishan’s career reached its turning point. His move to Sunrisers Hyderabad after a seven-year association with the MI franchise not only signaled a fresh start but also proved to be the catalyst he needed to rediscover his explosive potential.
During the 2025 season, Ishan Kishan regained his BCCI Central Contract, being placed in Grade C, a testament to the board acknowledging his hard-earned resurgence. That same year, he rewarded the faith of his new franchise by smashing his maiden IPL century against the Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad.
Overall, Ishan had a good outing with SRH in IPL 2025, amassing 354 runs, including a century and a fifty, at an average of 35.40 and a strike rate of 152.58 in 14 matches.
Ishan’s Nine-Month Consistency Masterclass
Over the last one year, Ishan Kishan’s resurgence has been nothing short of a complete metamorphosis. In three Ranji Trophy appearances for Jharkhand, Ishan aggregated 246 runs, including a century against Tamil Nadu in October 2025. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the 27-year-old led Jharkhand to their maiden title, alongside being the highest run-getter of the tournament with 517 runs in December 2025.
His performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earned him a spot in the India squad for the T20I series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup 2026. His India recall gave a major boost to his confidence, as he slammed a 33-ball century in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Karnataka in Ahmedabad in January 2026.
In New Zealand T20Is, Ishan further justified his selection by aggregating 215 runs, including a century and a fifty, at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate of 231.18 in four matches, marking his comeback to international cricket after two years of exile and transforming himself into the linchpin of India’s aggressive white-ball approach in January 2026.
Ishan Kishan carried on the momentum into the T20 World Cup, where he finished as India’s second-highest run-getter with 317 runs, including 3 fifties, at an average of 35.22 and a strike rate of 193.29 in nine matches, while playing a pivotal role in the Men in Blue’s successful title defence on home soil in February-March 2026.
Ishan Kishan continued to maintain his rhythm and consistency in the IPL 2026, as he amassed 602 runs, including 6 fifties, at an average of 40.13 and a strike rate of 182.42 in 15 matches, finishing as the second-highest run-getter for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and playing an instrumental role in guiding the franchise to the playoffs in March-May 2026.
The ODI Return and the Assertion of White-Ball Dominance
Ishan Kishan’s performance over the last few months has been rewarded with a selection to the India ODI squad for the ongoing series against Afghanistan, indicating that the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee’s decision to place their faith in his refined, high-intensity approach is already paying dividends.
With selectors’ priority being the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, Kishan’s versatility and ability to accelerate make him a formidable contender for the opening slot. Though Ishan batted at No.3 and 4 in the first and second ODIs against Afghanistan, respectively, his adaptability across the top and middle order highlights the tactical flexibility he brings to the table.
In the first two outings, Ishan’s attacking style of batting has been perfectly complemented by his newfound ability to anchor the innings. As the southpaw made his return to ODI cricket after two years, he hasn't just reclaimed his spot, he has redefined it, proving that his maturity in the 50-over format now matches his explosive prowess in T20s.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan was included in the India squad for the T20I series against Ireland and England as well as the Asian Games 2026, continuing his remarkable run and cementing his status as an indispensable part of India's white-ball blueprint.
