Star wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has spoken openly about the mental approach he adopted during his spell away from India, insisting that only steady batting output could put him back in contention. Kishan’s path back to the national fold was anything but straightforward: he had been dropped in 2024 and subsequently lost his BCCI central contract, before he returned to Indian cricket in 2026 in a more focused frame of mind. After taking time to prioritise his well-being, he worked his way back through reliable domestic performances, including a standout run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which ultimately earned him a recall to the India squad ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
His return also came with leadership responsibility in the IPL. In IPL 2026, Kishan stepped in as the stand-in captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad when Pat Cummins was unavailable, adding another layer to his comeback. Speaking on JioHotstar after SRH’s five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals on Saturday night, Kishan said he deliberately avoided getting stuck in the frustration of being left out and instead concentrated on improving his own batting and piling up runs.
“When I wasn’t playing and was out of the team, I told myself I can’t cry or sulk about it. It’s the easiest thing to do for any sportsman,” Kishan said. “It might earn you sympathy, but it won’t get you anywhere. The only thing that could have gotten me back into the reckoning was runs.” The batter-keeper then underlined how selection is driven by consistency rather than reputation, arguing that a player’s numbers must force their way into the conversation. “Only consistent run-scoring can bring you back into the team. If 300 runs in a season are not enough, score 400; if not that, score 500,” he added.
Kishan also reflected on how being away from the national side reshaped his perspective on cricket itself. “At the end of the day, cricket is our daily bread. When you’re out of the team, you understand its importance and start respecting every game. You become hungrier,” he said. He further explained that his mindset stayed geared towards sharpening his skills, even if it meant taking a more aggressive route at the crease. “I just wanted to improve my game and score as many runs as I could, even if that meant hitting more sixes than any other batter,” Kishan added.
After SRH’s standout win, Kishan revealed a conversation he had with 15-year-old rising prospect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He described speaking to the young batter about the intensity of his batting and the scoring momentum he was generating. “I was just telling him about the madness with which he is batting and how he is hitting. Sometimes, you are even scared thinking about what the scorecard could have looked if he had stayed for a few more overs. So, it was important for us to get his wicket. It was 228, it could have easily been 258. Cricket is all about comebacks. We got him out and made a little comeback there,” Kishan said, before sharing the playful message he had for the youngster: “When I am playing against you, please go a little easy on my team. I know all your secrets and inside stories.”
Turning to the contest itself, Rajasthan Royals posted 228/6, building momentum through an eye-catching spell of batting. Sooryavanshi struck a quick 103 off 37 balls, while Jurel made 51 from 35 deliveries. Donovan Ferreira also contributed a late burst of 33 off 16 balls as the innings accelerated towards the end.
In response, SRH lost Travis Head early, but the chase found structure through a big partnership between Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. Kishan struck 74 off 31 balls and Abhishek added 57 off 29, combining for a 132-run stand that set SRH on track. Even with a few wickets falling late, Heinrich Klaasen (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36) managed the tempo needed to keep the required run rate under control, and Sunrisers Hyderabad finished the job comfortably in 18.3 overs.
