Ishan Kishan is raring to make a turnaround on India A tour of Australia.
Earlier this year, the wicketkeeper-batter hogged the headlines for not being included in the BCCI central contracts list for the 2023-24 season. He lost the annual contracts after failing to adhere to the board's mandate of playing domestic cricket when not on national duty.
Notably, Kishan had withdrawn from the Test series in South Africa last December, citing personal reasons. Since then, he has not been picked in any of the Indian squads.
However, the 26-year-old started redeeming himself in the last couple of months and centuries in the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy helped him earn a place in the India A side.
Ahead of the Australia tour, Ishan Kishan highlighted the significant role played by his good friend and teammate Hardik Pandya in his redemption journey.
"Every individual is different. I feel not everyone would think like that. I feel I am lucky enough that my thinking pattern is very practical. I am a very practical guy. I have spent a lot of time with Hardik (Pandya) and you also know that he is a very practical guy. What's needed, is needed. You don't have to cry about everything... So I have also started thinking like that," Kishan told Times of India.
“At a very young age, I was picked by Mumbai Indians and I have been friends with Hardik for a long time now. So I know how he thinks and I know he also wants me to be a great player so he keeps sharing ideas with me. I am in a very practical zone right now. Even if you get out, it's not like I start thinking 'ye kya ho gaya (what just happened), how will I now perform in the next game,” he added.
Ishan Kishan was part of India's ODI World Cup squad last year, but he featured in only two games when Shubman Gill was down with dengue. Subsequently, things went downhill for him as he opted out of the South Africa tour midway.
Having experienced highs and lows in his career, Kishan said having a healthy zone around oneself is very important.
"You need to find that neutral point where even when you score a hundred, you have to be very calm. Even if you get out early, you have to stay grounded. You have to find that right balance. I am very lucky to have guys like Hardik around me who have spoken to me about it. There are moments in cricket where you feel really down. And it's not just for me, it's for every cricketer. But if you find that neutral point, you will get over it. Skills are always there, it's just your mental thing. How you are dealing with things at that point of time. I have been very lucky to be in a very healthy zone throughout my career," he remarked.