Ishan Kishan's road to India comeback likely to begin with Duleep Trophy 2024

Ishan Kishan is determined to make a comeback to the Indian team with strong performances in the forthcoming domestic season. According to reports, he could be seen in action during the Duleep Trophy next month alongside some of the biggest names in Indian cricket.

Kishan's last international appearance came in November 2023 during the five-match home T20I series against Australia. Earlier this year, in February, Kishan was excluded from BCCI's central contract list after opting out of the Ranji Trophy. During new India head coach Gautam Gambhir's first press conference, the chances of the southpaw's return to the national side wasn't addressed.

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However, Kishan has a golden opportunity to make his long-awaited comeback to the Indian side ahead of the selection meeting for the Bangladesh Test series next month. Earlier this month, he made himself available for the upcoming domestic season after being counselled by national selectors and has already been named among the 25 pre-season probables by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA).

This development came after the BCCI secretary reiterated that all fit players should make themselves available in domestic cricket when they are not representing the Men in Blue. Later, it was confirmed that the wicketkeeper-batter will lead Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu invitational tournament, which begins on August 15 in Chennai.

As per the latest report from Indian Express, the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection panel is set to give Kishan a shot at redemption during the prestigious Duleep Trophy, which will run from September 5 to 24. The selectors will be keeping a close eye on the performances of the players in this iconic red-ball tournament as India are set to play a two-match Test series at home against Bangladesh, starting September 19. 

Also Read: Reports: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Ashwin to skip Duleep Trophy

If Kishan, 26, can impress the selectors with his performances in the Duleep Trophy, he could be in line for a comeback during the Bangladesh series. The wicketkeeper-batter has so far played two Tests, 27 ODIs, and 32 T20Is for India. He would want to return to the national setup as soon as possible as the competition for places has intensified, especially after Dhruv Jurel's emergence and Rishabh Pant's comeback.