India National Cricket Team legend Harbhajan Singh has dropped a massive statement on the wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan after his heroics in the second T20I against the New Zealand National Cricket Team.
Harbhajan Singh recalled the criticism that the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman faced after taking a break from cricket a couple of years back to focus on his mental well-being.
Ishan Kishan And The Grand Plan Of Destiny
A few years back, Ishan Kishan was regarded as the next big thing in Indian cricket, and he quickly became an all-format player for the national side. However, in December 2023, he withdrew from the Test series against South Africa for “personal reasons”, and his career took a drastic turn.
Ishan Kishan cited mental fatigue as the reason behind his break from cricket, and he missed the entire subsequent Ranji Trophy domestic season, returning to competitive cricket only in the IPL 2024.
However, during that period, he was also seen holidaying and partying. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) eventually removed him from the annual central contract list in February 2024, citing his absence from the Ranji Trophy.
But now things have once again started to look great for Kishan as he recently guided Jharkhand to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory, booked a place in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad out of nowhere and then showcased his magic with the bat in Raipur.
Ishan Kishan said, ‘I am here’ – Harbhajan Singh
Kishan delivered a Player of the Match performance for India in the second T20I against New Zealand, smashing 76 runs off 32 balls, with 11 fours and 4 sixes.
Harbhajan Singh was mighty impressed with the wicketkeeper-batsman and, speaking on his YouTube channel, he lauded the Jharkhand lad.
“Ishan Kishan said, ‘I am here’. The way he batted, it did not seem like the team were under pressure at all. He is not a player who goes for singles or doubles, he just went flat out. He has recently scored a lot of runs for Jharkhand. When he was dropped from the team two years ago, everyone was saying what is mental health, and that he is doing all of this, but no one understood what he was feeling,” Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel.
I am really happy for him – Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh was delighted to see Kishan make an inspirational comeback after having a couple of difficult years in cricket.
“The way he has played his cricket, winning the trophy for Jharkhand, and now playing in that same fashion. It is a huge thing to make a comeback to international cricket in such a way. I am really happy for him. These last two years were quite difficult for him, but the hard work he has done, he has been rewarded for it now. I hope that he steps out in the World Cup as a key player for India,” Harbhajan Singh said.
“It was so nice to see Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma all come up to Ishan Kishan after he got out, and it shows that this team is a united bunch. They get happy with each other’s performances. When the team atmosphere is like this, the team will always win,” he added.
