From Domestic Grind to World Cup Hero: Ishan Kishan’s Comeback Fueled by Extra Practice and Jharkhand Grit

Ishan Kishan’s return to the international spotlight has become one of Indian cricket’s most compelling comeback stories this season, shaped by a relentless domestic grind, extra practice with his state team and a visible shift in approach after enduring a prolonged lean phase.

Once sidelined and forced to rebuild his career through domestic cricket, the 27-year-old Jharkhand opener has emerged as India’s powerplay enforcer at the T20 World Cup, delivering match-defining performances under pressure. His 40-ball 77 against Pakistan in Colombo on a difficult R Premadasa surface proved decisive in India’s 61-run win, propelling the co-hosts into the Super Eights. Earlier in the tournament, he blasted a 24-ball 61 against Namibia in Delhi and struck a half-century in a warm-up match against South Africa.

Domestic Runs Reignite International Push

Kishan’s resurgence was forged during a prolific domestic season. He scored a century in the Ranji Trophy against Tamil Nadu, topped the run charts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs — including two hundreds and two fifties — and led Jharkhand to their maiden T20 title. Days later, he marked his India recall with 125 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Karnataka. A preceding T20I series against New Zealand, where he registered a century and a fifty, further strengthened his case for World Cup selection.

Jharkhand head coach Ratan Kumar said the SMAT triumph proved pivotal.
“That title was the game-changer. As the tournament progressed, he trusted his teammates more and the long run of matches gave him rhythm and confidence,” Ratan told reporters. “On tough wickets, like against Pakistan, he was scoring at nearly 190 when others struggled to go at 120. It showed how prepared he was.”

Extra Sessions, Sharper Focus

The transformation, Ratan said, was built on additional practice sessions during rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and later during state-team camps.
“He would ask for 30–40 minute add-on sessions almost every day — sometimes side-armers, sometimes six-hitting drills. We fine-tuned parts of his game that were missing,” Ratan said. Kishan had been recovering from an ankle injury sustained during a stint in England and used the period to recalibrate his preparation.

Selectors initially left Kishan out of World Cup plans, but his domestic run-fest forced a rethink. The call to include him in the 15-member squad was seen as bold at the time. His returns since have justified the decision.

Motivation Born of Setbacks

“Bad times teach you a lot,” Ratan said, adding that Kishan was determined to reclaim his place. The Jharkhand coach also outlined a tactical tweak to prepare him for international demands: Kishan opened in T20s but batted at No. 4 or 5 in one-day cricket to broaden his adaptability, anticipating competition for top-order slots at the national level.

Kishan has since displaced Sanju Samson as India’s first-choice keeper-batter in the T20 setup. His coach believes this is only the beginning.
“You wait and watch. In the next one or two years, he will represent the country in all formats,” Ratan said.

For now, Kishan’s journey from domestic redemption to World Cup impact underscores a simple truth of elite sport: runs, repetition and resilience still matter — even in an era of instant stardom.