India vs Afghanistan: Was it mistrust that resulted in the dropping of Ishan Kishan?
Days after he was dropped from the T20 squad for the home series against Afghanistan, wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan was in Vadodara, training alongside his new captain at Mumbai Indians – Hardik Pandya. His non-selection in the T20 squad is rapidly turning into a saga. There are those who connect it to the intrigue surrounding Team India’s T20 World Cup captaincy, others talk about the team management’s alleged mistrust of the player.
Making the situation even more complex was the 25-year-old’s recent demand for a break because of mental fatigue.
Those close to the player feel that the team management has been insensitive to the inevitable frustration that creeps into the minds of those who are constantly benched. On the other hand, there is talk about a feeling within the leadership group that Kishan wasn’t taking his non-selection in the right spirit.
Even in the past, Kishan’s exclusion from the India squad or playing XI had kicked up debate. (File)
Piecing together the sequence of events and speaking to multiple sources, The Indian news understands that Kishan was unhappy about not being given a break at several points over the last couple of months. It’s learnt that the wicketkeeper first wanted to sit out of the T20 series against Australia that was played within days of the World Cup final. His plea wasn’t heeded. Eventually, Kishan was rested from the last two games but still stayed with the team.
Later, the youngster wanted a break from the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour but was keen to play the Tests. Again, he was denied a break.
It was after he was flown to South Africa that things came to a boil. As Kishan once again requested the team management to send him home, the BCCI withdrew him from the Test squad.
“He told the team management that he has mental fatigue because he had been on the road continuously and wanted to spend time with his family back home. Instead, he chose to travel to Dubai and was seen partying,” a source in the know revealed.
However, those close to the player ask a counter question: “When he has been given a break, how does it matter where he spends his time? He wants to be away from the game as constant travelling and warming the bench has taken a toll mentally. And he was in Dubai for his brother’s birthday celebrations.”
It’s learnt that Kishan had made himself available for the T20Is against Afghanistan, but was dropped despite opener Ruturaj Gaikwad being unavailable for selection. Despite doing well in the limited opportunities he has got with the national team, Kishan has lost out on his spot across formats.
It is not clear at this stage whether he will be considered for the Tests against England. Although Rahul has done well behind the stumps, in home conditions, a specialist wicketkeeper will be needed against the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
It’s learnt that Kishan had made himself available for the T20Is against Afghanistan, but was dropped despite opener Ruturaj Gaikwad being unavailable for selection. (File)
What is also intriguing is whether the team management and the BCCI factored in Kishan’s mental fatigue aspect. Kishan, like most of his colleagues, has gone through an extremely busy 12 months, which included a World Cup on home soil, where the pressure kept getting more intense. That he did so while vying for a spot must also have contributed to the mental fatigue.
“There is still a stigma around how people perceive it,” Divya Jain, sport and counselling psychologist, and head – psychological services, Fortis Healthcare, tells The Indian news. “When it comes to taking a break, completely staying disconnected from the sport helps a great deal. Sometimes, staying totally away from the sport, not even watching it on television, is one way to go. It can be emotionally exhausting and after a point, you will look for things that are still relevant to you as an individual and not just as a player. It includes spending time with friends, going out or doing what you love as an individual.”
No clarity
The T20Is against Afghanistan is the last series in the format before the World Cup, and offers a chance to figure out combinations. While there was no press conference after naming the squad, even the press release sent by the BCCI didn’t reveal any notes about the players missing out.
Even in the past, Kishan’s exclusion from the India squad or playing XI had kicked up debate.
In December 2022, after he had scored 213 in an ODI against Bangladesh, it appeared that Kishan had locked the opener’s slot alongside Rohit Sharma for the World Cup. Instead, in the next ODI against Sri Lanka at home, the team management went with Shubman Gill to partner Rohit and Kishan remained a back-up option up until the World Cup.
When India missed Rahul’s services in the lead-up to the World Cup, Kishan donned his role in the middle order and made impressive scores, before vacating the spot when the former regained full fitness. And in T20Is, despite Rishabh Pant not around and him being a left-hander, India have chosen to go with Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson as they can bat in the middle order. That Kishan was once again pipped by Rahul to a specialist role behind the stumps in Tests also seems to have weighed in.
According to sports psychologist Jain, even if an athlete or player doesn’t get much game time in the middle, the time spent on the bench while fighting for a spot can also contribute to mental fatigue.
“It can be demotivating at times and have an impact on your confidence. You will start doubting whether you are good for the top level. So you need to integrate them and keep them in a good stead,” says Jain.
Recently, speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin had heaped praise on Kishan, calling him an “extraordinary team man,” while recalling an incident from India’s West Indies tour.
“We were having dinner at a restaurant in Trinidad and Tobago, and he came wearing shorts, a colourful shirt and a gold chain. It was his birthday and we wished him,” the off-spinner said. “There were about five tables, all with the Indian team and support staff, and when we were about to pay the bill, they informed us that Ishan had already paid the bill for all of them. In this day and age, to see such an unselfish guy like him is rare.”
Ashwin also lauded Kishan’s attitude after continuously warming the bench despite performing well. “One more thing is that Ishan Kishan is an extraordinary team man. He will mix positive vibes with the water he is giving to the players in the XI,” he had said.
Much water seems to have flown under the bridge since, and the curious case of the missing Kishan is developing into a situation not out of control, but certainly in need of some control and sensitive handling.
