India national cricket team legend Harbhajan Singh has made a big statement on wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan after his heroics in the second T20I against the New Zealand national cricket team.
Harbhajan Singh recalled the criticism that the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman faced after taking a break from cricket to focus on his mental well-being a few years ago.
Ishan Kishan and Niyati’s grand plan
A few years ago, Ishan Kishan was considered the next big thing in Indian cricket, and he soon became an all-format player for the national team. However, in December 2023, he withdrew from the Test series against South Africa due to “personal reasons” and his career took a drastic turn.
Ishan Kishan cited mental fatigue as the reason behind his break from cricket and he missed the entire subsequent Ranji Trophy domestic season, only returning to competitive cricket in IPL 2024.
However, during that time he was also seen celebrating holidays and partying. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) eventually dropped him from the annual central contract list in February 2024, citing his absence from the Ranji Trophy.
But now things are once again looking good for Kishan as he recently led Jharkhand to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, suddenly confirmed a place in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad and then showed his magic with the bat in Raipur.
Ishan Kishan said, ‘I am here’- Harbhajan Singh
Kishan performed player of the match for India in the second T20 match against New Zealand, scoring 76 runs with the help of 11 fours and 4 sixes in 32 balls.
Harbhajan Singh was very impressed with the wicketkeeper-batsman and while speaking on his YouTube channel, he praised this player from Jharkhand.
“Ishan Kishan said, ‘I am here’. The way he batted, it did not look like the team was under pressure at all. He is not a player who goes for singles or doubles, he just got out. He has scored a lot of runs for Jharkhand recently. When he was dropped from the team two years ago, everyone was saying what is mental health, and he is doing all this, but no one understood what he was feeling,” Harbhajan said. Singh said on his YouTube channel.
I am very happy for him- Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh was very happy to see Kishan making an inspirational comeback after some difficult years in cricket.
Harbhajan Singh said, “The way he has played his cricket, won trophies for Jharkhand and is playing in the same style now. It is a big thing to make a comeback in international cricket. I am very happy for him. These last two years were very difficult for him, but the hard work he has put in has now paid off. I am hopeful that he will be a key player for India in the World Cup.”
He said, “It was great to see that Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma came to Ishan Kishan after his dismissal and it shows that this team is united. They are happy with each other’s performance. When the team atmosphere is like this, the team will always win.”
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