NEWS
Follow UsIshan Kishan’s cricketing career hit a high point in 2023 when he featured in the 50-over World Cup at home, but everything soon came crashing down for the 26-year-old in no time.
In December, Kishan lost his Test spot after withdrawing from the series against South Africa and then, by February, he’d lost his BCCI central contract after reportedly refusing to play domestic cricket. In the space of three months, the wicketkeeper had gone from a three-format regular to a complete outcast.
This was when Kishan decided to spend an extended period of time in Baroda. The 26-year-old temporarily shifted base to Baroda and not only trained alongside the Pandya brothers at the Kiran More Academy, but also made lifestyle changes that helped him rediscover the fire inside him.
Kishan, for a while, had gone off the rails, but in an interview to Times of India, he revealed how time spent in Baroda proved to be a life-changing experience for him, both personally and professionally.
“I had a reality check in Baroda about my hunger towards the game and the process was just too good,” Kishan told TOI.
“When I was there in Baroda, it was not like I was just batting. It was like starting your life again, your cricket again. The same hunger which I used to have when I used to play Sunday-to-Sunday as a kid. We used to crave for matches then and used to wait for a Sunday.
“In Baroda, we had a plan and a routine. I used to do a lot of yoga and do a lot of meditation. It was not like I was staying only at their place. There was a time when my parents were there and I was spending a lot of time with them and feeling very grounded.
“I was not in a negative zone because I wasn't in the team. I was in a very healthy space training twice a day for one month. I got to batting only after a month and before that I used to wake up early to meditate and used to see the rising sun. It was so much fun.”
The 26-year-old revealed that the time spent in Baroda gave him perspective and wisdom that helped him maintain a healthy balance between personal and professional life.
“I used to crave for my batting in Baroda also during training because batting happened only after a month of training. It was the best time of my life. IPL didn't go that well but it was a very big learning for me that no matter what you do, everything will not go your way. There will be times when god will check you and that's the time you have to be very stable in life. Very practical and very grounded.
“You have to keep playing your game because at the end of the day, there is so much competition. Everyone wants to play for India and I am very happy for everyone who is playing for the country. There is so much healthy competition that you start enjoying it and don't take it as additional pressure.”
In the same interview, Kishan further spoke about the role of ‘mentor’ Hardik Pandya. Kishan revealed that among the many things Pandya has taught him, what’s stuck with him the most is the importance of finding the ‘neutral’ point; being grounded when there’s success and not panicking when things are not going your way.
“At a very young age, I was picked by Mumbai Indians and I have been friends with Hardik for a long time now. So I know how he thinks and I know he also wants me to be a great player so he keeps sharing ideas with me. I am in a very practical zone right now. Even if you get out, it's not like I start thinking 'ye kya ho gaya (what just happened), how will I now perform in the next game',” Kishan revealed.
“You need to find that neutral point where even when you score a hundred, you have to be very calm. Even if you get out early, you have to stay grounded. You have to find that right balance. I am very lucky to have guys like Hardik around me who have spoken to me about it. There are moments in cricket where you feel really down.
“And it's not just for me, it's for every cricketer. But if you find that neutral point, you will get over it. Skills are always there, it's just your mental thing. How you are dealing with things at that point of time. I have been very lucky to be in a very healthy zone throughout my career.”
Kishan has not played for India since November 2023, but he is back in the scheme of things again, evident by him getting picked in the ‘A’ squad for the Australia tour. The wicketkeeper batter asserted that he is happy to be ‘back on track’.
“Obviously very special for me. I am very happy about it as it's another opportunity for me to go there and perform with a bunch of great players coming on the tour. Very happy about getting my name back and getting everything back on track,” he said.
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