Former Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan’s recent struggles. Ashwin expressed confidence that better days are ahead for the young cricketer, hoping he will regain form and re-establish himself as a key contributor to the Indian cricket team.
Ishaan’s cricket career has been full of ups and downs. The southpaw made a name for himself with powerful and match-winning innings. However, recent challenges have raised doubts over his international future, with his last appearance for India coming in a T20I against Australia in November 2023.
Ishan Kishan dropped from all teams and loses BCCI contract in 2024
Ishan Kishan captained the India U19 team in the World Cup final in 2016 and soon established himself in domestic cricket by scoring a brilliant inning of 273 runs for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. His fearless batting style attracted national attention.
Kishan made his international debut in 2021 in T20Is and ODIs. He registered his name in the record books as the youngest cricketer to score a double century in ODIs by scoring 210 runs against Bangladesh in 2022.
The left-handed batsman later featured in India’s Asia Cup win and 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, where India finished as runners-up. However, things changed in late 2023 when he withdrew from the South Africa tour citing mental fatigue.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was subsequently dropped from all teams and lost his BCCI contract. He struggled to impress while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025. Kishan has raw talent but it will need to be coupled with discipline and perseverance to maintain long-term success.
Hope things work out in Ishan Kishan’s favor – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin said that Ishan Kishan was out of the Test team in South Africa due to mental fatigue. Ashwin compared it to Shreyas Iyer’s successful comeback and expressed hope that Ishan would regain form and re-establish himself as an important member of the Indian team.
“If someone is not having a good time, you can’t say much. What happened with Ishan was unfortunate. He was part of the Test team in South Africa but was not in the right mental state, so he said he wanted to step down,” Ashwin said.
The Indian team respected this and allowed him to take a break. Then during the same series, Rishabh Pant got injured and was admitted to the hospital. It was just bad times and bad circumstances for Ishaan.
“I really hope things turn around for him. Like Shreyas Iyer, who worked hard and came back, Ishan should also score runs and come back stronger as an important part of the Indian team,” he said.
Ravichandran Ashwin Anna spoke openly about Ishan Kishan’s condition and said that he is confident that good times for Ishan will come soon.@ishaankishan51 #ishaankishan pic.twitter.com/TzcAOdCeq9
– Ishan’s (@IshanWK32) 9 October 2025
Ishan Kishan has played two Tests, 27 ODIs and 32 T20 matches for India.
Ishan Kishan has represented India in two Tests, 27 ODIs and 32 T20Is. He played 14 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the recent IPL season, scoring 354 runs at an average of 35.40 and a strike rate of 152.5, including one century and one half-century.
Ishan created history by playing a stormy innings of 210 runs against Bangladesh in Chattogram in December 2022 and became the youngest and fastest player to score a double century in ODIs. The left-handed batsman is ranked third among India’s highest individual scorers in the 50-over format.
Rohit Sharma leads that list with his iconic innings of 264 against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in 2014. The former Indian captain hit 33 fours and nine sixes in that record-breaking innings.
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