Two years. 730 days of silence from the Indian dressing room. No blue jersey. No walk to the crease under floodlights. Just nets, domestic matches, and one gnawing question echoing in his head: “Can I do it or not?”
For Ishan Kishan, that wasn’t just self-doubt—it was a challenge. And in a high-stakes T20 clash against New Zealand, he answered it with a thunderous 76 off 32 balls, a knock so explosive it didn’t just win him a place back in the side—it announced his return to the world stage. This is the story of an Ishan Kishan comeback forged not in luck, but in resilience, reflection, and relentless domestic grind.
Table of Contents
- The Hiatus and the Doubt
- Domestic Cricket as a Catalyst
- The 76 Off 32 Balls That Changed Everything
- Mindset Over Muscle: How Kishan Rebuilt His Game
- What This Means for India’s T20 Future
- Conclusion: From Question to Certainty
The Hiatus and the Doubt
Kishan’s last appearance for India was in November 2023. After that, he vanished from the national setup—not due to injury, but performance dips and stiff competition in a stacked middle order. The cricketing world moved on. Rookies emerged. Veterans adapted. But Kishan? He retreated inward.
“There were moments I questioned everything,” he admitted post-match. “Not just my technique, but whether I still had what it takes at this level.” That vulnerability is rare in elite sport, where confidence is often worn like armor. But it’s precisely that honesty that made his Ishan Kishan comeback so authentic—and so powerful.
Domestic Cricket as a Catalyst
Instead of sulking, Kishan went back to basics. He played Ranji Trophy. He turned out for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He batted long, rotated strike, and—crucially—reconnected with the joy of the game. Domestic cricket, often dismissed as a “last resort,” became his sanctuary and his proving ground.
According to ESPNcricinfo stats, Kishan scored over 400 runs across formats in the 2025–26 domestic season before his recall . But more than numbers, it was his intent that caught selectors’ eyes: calculated aggression, improved shot selection, and a calmness under pressure absent in his earlier international stints.
[INTERNAL_LINK:domestic-cricket-pathway-to-india-team] For many young Indian players, domestic success is a stepping stone. For Kishan, it was a lifeline.
The 76 Off 32 Balls That Changed Everything
Facing a daunting chase against New Zealand’s pace-heavy attack, India needed a spark. Enter Kishan at No. 4. What followed was carnage wrapped in control:
- 8 fours and 5 sixes
- Strike rate of 237.50
- Partnership of 98 runs with Suryakumar Yadav in under 8 overs
- Target chased with 27 balls to spare
But beyond the fireworks, it was his decision-making that stood out. He left good-length balls outside off. He targeted spinners early. He ran hard between wickets. This wasn’t reckless hitting—it was strategic demolition. As former India coach Ravi Shastri noted on air, “He’s playing with clarity now, not chaos” .
Mindset Over Muscle: How Kishan Rebuilt His Game
Kishan credits his turnaround to mental recalibration. Working with a sports psychologist, he shifted focus from “proving others wrong” to “trusting his process.” He stopped obsessing over IPL auctions or social media noise and started journaling his innings—what worked, what didn’t, and why.
“The question ‘Can I do it or not?’ wasn’t rhetorical,” he said. “I had to answer it every day in practice. And slowly, the answer became ‘Yes.’”
This psychological shift aligns with research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), which shows that athletes who engage in self-dialogue and goal-setting recover faster from performance slumps . Kishan didn’t just rebuild his technique—he rebuilt his belief.
What This Means for India’s T20 Future
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Kishan’s resurgence couldn’t be timelier. India’s middle order has lacked consistent firepower outside Suryakumar Yadav. Kishan offers left-handed balance, power down the ground, and experience in high-pressure chases—qualities that could prove decisive in knockout games.
Moreover, his ability to anchor or accelerate makes him a tactical wildcard. As one BCCI insider told TOI, “He’s not just back—he’s upgraded” .
Conclusion: From Question to Certainty
Ishan Kishan’s journey back to the Indian jersey is more than a cricket story—it’s a human one. It’s about doubt, discipline, and the quiet courage to ask yourself the hardest questions. His 76 off 32 balls wasn’t just runs on a scoreboard; it was an emphatic period at the end of a long sentence of uncertainty.
In a sport that often discards players after one misstep, Kishan’s Ishan Kishan comeback is a reminder: sometimes, the most powerful innings begin not with a cover drive, but with a single, honest question.
Sources
- Times of India. “The question that brought Ishan Kishan back: ‘Can I do it or not?'” timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- ESPNcricinfo. “Ishan Kishan Player Profile & Stats.” espncricinfo.com
- Star Sports Broadcast. “Post-Match Analysis: India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I.” January 2026
- BCCI. “Selection Committee Statement on Squad Announcement.” bcci.tv
- NCBI. “The Role of Self-Talk in Athletic Performance.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov