Beyond the Blistering Sixes: Ishan Kishan Opens Up on His Passion for Red-Ball Cricket

Ishan Kishan is widely recognized for his explosive batting, often defined by his penchant for clearing the ropes and dismantling bowling attacks in white-ball cricket. However, as the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter recently demonstrated, there is more to his game than just the flair of limited-overs cricket.

Fresh off leading East Zone to a commanding innings and 210-run victory over North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Kishan spoke candidly about his deep-seated appreciation for the longest format of the game.

A Love for the Longest Format

“I enjoy red-ball cricket very much,” Kishan told Cricinfo. “I think people don’t believe me when I say that, but I’m being very honest. I really do enjoy it.”

Despite his substantial experience in international white-ball formats—boasting 32 ODIs and 55 T20Is—and over a decade in the IPL, his Test career has been more sparse, with his last appearance for India coming in July 2023. Nevertheless, the hunger for the rigors of red-ball cricket remains undiminished.

“It’s always fun to be part of it because I love the challenge,” he added. “Yes, it’s easier to bat on flat tracks, and it’s fun as well, but the competition that goes around in Test matches is on a different level.”

Navigating the Transition

Returning to first-class cricket after a nine-month hiatus, during which he juggled a heavy diet of white-ball fixtures and IPL commitments, presented its own unique set of obstacles.

Kishan acknowledged that the mental and technical shift required to switch formats is far from seamless. “Situations will get tricky,” he noted. “It will not be easy for us as players to just move around from white ball to red ball… change of format, change of gameplay, but that is the fun part about this game.”

The 26-year-old also touched upon the unseen pressures athletes face, emphasizing that public perception often oversimplifies the life of a professional cricketer. “You need to understand, as a sportsman, life can be harsh on us. It just looks very simple, but there is so much going on in their head every time,” he said. Ultimately, however, he maintains a no-excuse policy: “If you want to make it big, you can’t have many excuses. You should just think about getting better and not cry about things you cannot control.”

Lessons from a Brief Stay

Kishan’s own performance in the match was brief, lasting only four runs before he was caught behind while attempting a loose shot. He admitted the error was a lapse in concentration, triggered by over-thinking. “I was in the middle of the shot, and I was like, ‘what the heck am I trying to do!’ I should know this is a first-class match and I need to leave a few balls.”

He explained that his desire to not play a certain shot actually led him to do exactly that—a psychological trap that can occur when a player hasn’t spent enough time training with the red ball.

Focusing on the Future

The match, which saw Anukul Roy shine with a five-wicket haul, served as a vital warm-up for the knockout stages. Despite the massive margin of victory, Kishan remains focused on self-improvement and raising team standards.

Addressing the team’s performance, he noted, “We played after a very long time, but I feel the energy was not up to the mark.” Looking ahead to the semi-final against Central Zone starting on August 30, the captain is demanding more intensity. “We’ll have to be on our toes. We’ll have to put in the effort and fight for every wicket.”

As Ishan Kishan continues his journey through the domestic red-ball circuit, his commitment to evolving as a well-rounded cricketer suggests that his appetite for the game’s greatest format is only growing stronger.