Ishan Kishan’s recall to India’s T20 World Cup squad after nearly two years in the wilderness, marked by on-and-off-field issues, has been one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket since Saturday. For Uttam Mazumdar, his personal coach and childhood mentor, the news has brought a profound sense of relief.
An explosive aggregate of 517 runs at a staggering strike rate of 197.32 in the just-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) made an undeniable case for the wicketkeeper-batter. Leading his state, synonymous with his idol, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, to the title, Ishan forced the selectors' hand.
The only lingering question was whether the think tank, led by Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, could set aside any perceived prejudice against the 27-year-old, who once cited "mental fatigue" to withdraw from a South Africa tour.
I would not like to comment on the past, but it would have been extremely unfair to keep him out after the SMAT success.
"We had many discussions about how important this tournament was for resurrecting Ishan’s international career."
Mazumdar, who first spotted a precocious six-year-old Ishan at Patna’s Moin-ul Haq Stadium, now runs his own academy in Noida. He remains in close touch with his celebrated ward through regular video calls and messages.
While Ishan is the squad's second wicketkeeper-batter after Sanju Samson, Mazumdar fancies his chances as an opener.
The team management will decide the playing XI, but I think Ishan will be most effective in the powerplay with Abhishek Sharma.
"Yes, he can bat in the middle order, but he has been opening in the IPL for years and showed his destructive power-hitting in the SMAT."
Ishan’s career has been a chequered one. Often overlooked is that he is the youngest batter to score an ODI double-century (210 vs. Bangladesh in 2022). He also filled in for the absent Rishabh Pant, his teammate from the 2016 U-19 World Cup, in the 2023 World Test Championship final.
However, his defiance of a BCCI directive to play domestic cricket saw him dropped from the central contracts list last year, costing him two valuable years. Mazumdar refuses to dwell on that "dark phase" but believes the call-up can herald a new beginning.
It’s because Ishan came into the limelight so early that it seems he has been around forever. He’s young and has a good 10 years of competitive cricket left.
"This period of exile taught him patience and maturity as a person and cricketer. It will benefit him in the long run."
During these trying times, Mazumdar revealed Ishan turned to meditation to calm his mind. "Before every SMAT match, we had a video chat. It was more about the mental side; he has outgrown the need for batting advice from me," the coach shared.
"I told him this was his chance to impress the selectors. He not only did that but forced his way in. Leading a young Jharkhand side to their first-ever T20 title is no mean feat."
Mazumdar, who considers Ishan family, signed off with a bold prediction: "I won’t be surprised if he stakes a claim in other formats soon."
