'To be selected for Team India is a surreal feeling' - Ishan Kishan reacts after bagging maiden India call up

India’s young wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan is in blistering form in the domestic circuit. Since his domestic debut in 2014, the batsman has featured in 74 List-A and 95 T20 games amassing 2511 and 2372 runs at a stunning average of 38 and 28 respectively. He also has  massive 2665 runs under his belt in 44 List-A games at an average of 37.5.

In addition, the 22-year-old had emerged as the wrecker-in-chief for the Mumbai Indians (MI) during the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they lifted their fifth title. Ishan was the highest run-getter for his team with a whopping 516 runs in 14 matches at an average of 57.33 and strike rate of 145.76.

The left-hander is finally rewarded for excellent performance in IPL and domestic cricket as he earned his maiden call for Indian team. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the Indian squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, starting from March 12 and the players like Rahul Tewatia, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav got their maiden national call-ups.

Overwhelmed for receiving his maiden call and the congratulatory messages from all across the cricket fraternity, Ishan took to his official Twitter handle to express his gratitude to the authorities and fans and promised to continue working hard.

Ishan tweeted, “The last few days I feel overwhelmed with all your love. Your support means so much to me. Thank you for all the kind messages you have sent me. It feels very special. Playing for India has always been a big dream for me and to be selected for #TeamIndia is a surreal feeling.”

“I will aim to continue to work hard and improve. #Grateful,” he added.

I will aim to continue to work hard and improve. #Grateful

— Ishan Kishan (@ishankishan51) February 23, 2021

Ishan Kishan thanks Mumbai Indians (MI) for their support

The 22-year-old was picked by Mumbai Indians during IPL Auction for 2018 edition for a whopping amount of INR 6.2 crore and since then there has been no looking back for the youngster. The left-hander was all praises for Mumbai’s team-management in a recent interview as he reflected on his journey in the Indian league thus far.

“What I have gained in the last three years at Mumbai Indians will always remain with me as the bedrock of my cricket. Difficult for me to break it down into details, but it was more of the mentorship I would reckon from the coaches, captain and Zaheer Sir, which really helped me; and my conversations with Akash Sir, he always shown faith in me,” Kishan said as quoted by Times of India.