22-year-old wicket-keeper-batsman made his introduction for India in the second T20I of the 5-match series against England in Ahmedabad. After causing a ripple effect in the U-19 World Cup and the Indian Premier League, Ishan Kishan was compensated for his consistency in the white-ball design with an India debut. Ishan Kishan made the most awesome aspect of the chance that came his way with 56 runs in 32-balls impressing every cricket fan out there.
Ishan Kishan is the seventh batter in the world to accomplish a double century off just 126 balls in an ODI series and the fourth from India after Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and Virender Sehwag.
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The team had to chase 94-runs to get to the target of 165 runs to win the match against England. Debutant’s Ishan helped the team win with his impressive talent.
Ishan has always dreamt of joining the Indian cricket team but had to face a lot of difficulties to fulfill his dream.
From sleeping on an empty stomach for almost 2 years to parting ways from his family at 12 years old Kishan went through a lot to become this passionate and focused sportsman he is today.
In an interview with The Indian Express, his father Pranav Kumar Pandey recalled,
“He was just a boy and his coach (Uttam Majumdar) and everyone said that if he has to play higher cricket, he should migrate to Ranchi. His mother was upset but after a lot of discussions, we decided to send him to the neighbouring state. There was some fear in the mind, but Ishan was stubborn to go to Ranchi.”
The young sportsman secured a position in the SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd.) team in the district cricket tournament in Ranchi, Ishan used to live with four seniors in his one-room quarters. He was given the duty of doing the dishes there since he didn’t know how to cook.
“His seniors used to go to play cricket in the nights, and on many occasions, he would sleep without eating; he never told us. This continued for two years. He would get some chips, Kurkure, and Coca-Cola and sleep.”
When we used to call, he used to lie that he had his dinner. Once we came to know, we decided we will rent a flat in Ranchi, his father said. His mom Suchitra moved in with him in the new house soon.
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All these difficulties he faced molded him to become what he is today and finally Ishan became the captain of the India Under-19 world cup team in 2016 coached by Rahul Dravid. His father divulged,
“That was the first time I felt that my son must be good as they made him the captain. More than that I felt at least now if nothing good happens ahead in cricket, he will get a government job. Padhayi-likhayi mein toh mann tha he nahi uska (he never had much interest in academics)”
And when we look today, he is making headlines with his amazing batting skills. Everyone especially his father and coach was excited to see him taking over the match.
Young Kishan had an attitude which set him apart from other kids of similar age. After net sessions, the coach would make him practice with 300 throw-downs followed by 250 front-foot and 250 back-foot practice strokes. Uttam Majumdar, his coach, who had played for Bihar under 22 and also with Mahendra Singh Dhoni said,
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“He had to play all shots — pull, cut, drive, every shot. My main aim was to make him a good back-foot player. If Ishan had to succeed at the top, he has to be good playing on the back-foot. There were days when 100 odd people used to turn up at the ground to see Ishan’s batting.”
Ishan’s never-quit attitude made him what he is today added Majumdar,
“Many times while playing the pull, he would get hit but would never cry; he would sip some water and start again. It was those sessions which are helping him now, look at the way he pulls to even the fastest bowlers in the world.”
An emotional coach added,
“All my life, I dreamt Ishan batting in a crowded stadium in the Indian jersey. The dream has finally come true, the hard work in the heat for all those years has paid off. He was very close to my father and it was a dream that we all saw together.”
His coach also said that Kishan dedicated his half-century against England to his father who died of cancer. He added,
“He was very close to my father. He was with me from the age of five-six. He is part of my family. I had casually told him before the game that if you score fifty, it will be a tribute to my father and he did it.”
The young Indian batter Ishan Kishan scored a double century off just 126 balls at the final ODI match of the series against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. This was the third and final ODI match of the 2022 series.
This made Ishan Kishan the seventh batter in the world to accomplish this and the fourth from India after Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and Virender Sehwag.
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