Ishan Kishan Leads Jharkhand in Buchi Babu Tournament for Indian Team Spot

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan returned to domestic cricket on August 15, leading Jharkhand in the Buchui Babu Tournament against Madhya Pradesh at the India Cements Limited Cricket Ground. Kishan's absence from the Ranji Trophy last season, where he declined to participate, resulted in the loss of his BCCI central contract. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had emphasized the importance of domestic play for players seeking to re-enter the national team, a directive Kishan initially overlooked in favor of training with the Pandya brothers ahead of the IPL 2024. Kishan's last international appearance was in November 2023 during a T20I series against Australia, from which he withdrew due to mental fatigue after a year of continuous travel. His decision to skip the latter stages of the Ranji Trophy hindered his chances of making a comeback to the Indian squad. However, with the home series against Bangladesh on the horizon, Kishan is eager to showcase his skills in the ongoing tournament. On Day 1 of the Buchui Babu Tournament, Kishan's leadership proved effective as Jharkhand restricted Madhya Pradesh to 225 runs for 8 wickets in 89.5 overs. Bowlers Vivekanand and Aditya Singh were instrumental, each taking two wickets. As Jharkhand prepares for their first innings, all eyes will be on Kishan, who aims to make a significant impact to bolster his selection chances for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.