IPL 2021: Ishan Kishan takes part in intense wicketkeeping drills under Parthiv Patel's guidance

The second phase of the Indian Premier League is all set to kick off on September 19 in the UAE. As the opening clash will see Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings locking horns, young wicketkeeping-batter Ishan Kishan has been training hard. In a video posted by MI on their official Instagram handle on September 15, Kishan could be seen sweating it out in the catching drills behind the wicket that came under the supervision of former Indian keeper Parthiv Patel.

In the video, Kishan could be seen trying his best to grab balls going outside the off-stump against a spinner. As Parthiv Patel pans the camera, it moves to throwdown specialist Anmol. As Patel switched his batting instances, it tested Ishan Kishan’s footwork outside the leg stump too.

“Anmol, bowl a half volley on the leg side, at a normal pace, I’m standing like this (normal left-handed stance), once you bowl, I’ll switch to a right-hander’s stance,” says Patel in the video posted by Mumbai Indians.

 

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This felt as strenuous as a gym session: Ishan Kishan

Though Kishan appeared quite swift in his movements, he was quite exhausted towards the end. The session ended with Kishan taking some straight catches off the bat. The second phase of the IPL will be of huge significance for Kishan as he will look forward to getting his place in the playing XI of Mumbai Indians.

“This felt as strenuous as a gym session. In these keeping drills, you don’t have to take too many catches, but for a short burst of time, you have to be very intense,” added Ishan Kishan.

If Kishan performs well in the upcoming season of the IPL, he might even strengthen his place in the starting XI of the Indian team in the T20 World Cup. The last season of IPL was brilliant for the young wicketkeeping batsman as he smashed 516 runs at an average of 57.3 in the UAE. However, during the Indian phase of IPL 2021, he suffered to score runs and had to warm benches to make a place for other players.