"Don't Have To Cry About...": The 'Hardik' Factor In Kishan's Comeback

It has been a topsy-turvy year for Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan. Kishan was left out of the BCCI central contracts list after taking a break from cricket during the series against South Africa. However, he showed a brilliant run of form in the Duleep Trophy as well as the Ranji Trophy to find a place in the India A squad for the tour of Australia. Ahead of his comeback, Kishan opened up about his journey and the role that Hardik Pandya played in his guiding him.

"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 played two matches in the ODI World Cup 2023 before losing his spot to Shubman Gill. The youngster opened up about how maintaining a neutral point helped him in keeping balance in his career.

"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 concluded.