Ishan Kishan opens up on Mumbai Indians' role in his evolution as cricketer

Young wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan made the headlines when he scored a record-breaking double-century against Bangladesh in the third ODI of the recently concluded series. Since that day, he has been under the spotlight. Though it took him a little time to come out on top and put up a masterclass, the journey behind achieving the feat has been amazing.

Kishan was a part of India's ODI squad but did not get a chance to play the first two games. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s injury led to Kishan finding himself a place in the playing combination for the third game. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and notched up a magnificent ton. He then converted it into the fastest-ever ODI double century and etched his name in history books. 

Even before making the cut to the Indian side, Kishan came into limelight during the Indian Premier League while playing for five-time champions Mumbai Indians. Kishan showcased great batting skills while representing the franchise, and went on to become a permanent member of the squad. Thus, the IPL franchise has played a major role in the 24-year-old’s growth.

In a recent interview with OneCricket, Kishan spoke about the role Mumbai Indians played in his evolution as a cricketer, as he said:

“Mumbai Indians have helped me a lot. In a way, how we deal with pressure situations also, because there were so many big players in the team and I got to learn so much from Sachin Sir and Rohit bhai, Hardik bhai. Even Polly (Kieron Pollard), I think he has got a great mind. So, I used to talk about these things.”

These things mattered to me a lot: Ishan

Speaking further about the franchise’s role behind his personal development, he said:

“When I was not doing well, I’m not talking about the results, I’m talking about my work ethic on the ground, so Hardik bhai was always there to pull my legs, or get me in the zone when I start working hard. These things also mattered to me a lot, as I knew that such a big player is putting in so much effort. These things have helped me a lot. I don’t know if I would have noticed these things with other teams.”