Ishan Kishan's Four Decembers: From Double Century to Redemption via the Bhagavad Gita

For Ishan Kishan, the past four Decembers have been a rollercoaster, marked by incredible highs, disappointing lows, and ultimately, a journey of self-discovery. Leading Jharkhand to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the left-handed batsman scored 517 runs at a striking rate of 197.32, including a century in just 51 balls during the final against Haryana. This triumph signifies a full-circle moment for Kishan.

A year prior, grappling with personal challenges and uncertainty about his career, Kishan turned to the Bhagavad Gita. Verse 47 of chapter 2 – “Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana (You have the right to work but never to the fruit of work)” – deeply resonated with him. Like Arjuna, Kishan felt he was fighting battles both on and off the field.

Rewind to December 2022, and Kishan was celebrating a record-breaking double century against Bangladesh in Chattogram, reaching the milestone in just 126 balls. This surpassed Chris Gayle's previous record of 138 balls set in 2015. The achievement suggested a promising future, potentially opening alongside Rohit Sharma in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the following month, in a home ODI against Sri Lanka, Shubman Gill was preferred, relegating Kishan to the role of reserve player throughout the World Cup. Despite delivering solid performances when given the opportunity – including a notable 91 against Pakistan – he was dropped as soon as KL Rahul regained fitness. Even in T20Is, the team favored right-handers over Kishan, despite the advantage of having a left-handed option in the middle order.

In December 2023, Kishan requested a break, citing mental fatigue. This decision reportedly didn't sit well with the team management at the time, led by then-coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Their perspective suggested that Kishan hadn't responded well to being benched. Dravid later stated that Kishan needed to play domestic cricket to be considered for the Indian team again. This was despite Kishan scoring a century against Kerala shortly after his double century in Chattogram.

Since last playing for India, Kishan has participated in various tournaments, including the DY Patil Tournament, the Buchi Babu Trophy, IPL, county cricket, and domestic cricket for Jharkhand. He also lost his BCCI central contract, following instructions for players to prioritize domestic cricket when not on national duty.

Furthermore, luck hasn't always been on Kishan's side. He was in line to replace the injured Rishabh Pant in the Oval Test against England but was sidelined by an injury himself. Despite his name being discussed in subsequent team selections, an alleged “attitude problem” has been cited as a barrier. He was also close to selection for the ODI series against South Africa.

During this challenging period, the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita provided solace and discipline. Kishan’s father, Pranav Pandey, shared that the setbacks have made his son more determined than ever to represent India again. He recounted how difficult it was to see his son, who was always smiling, lose his joy during this period. Pranav also recalled Ishan's early struggles after moving to Ranchi at the age of 12 for cricket, including cooking Maggi for dinner and drinking sattu before practice.

Before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Pranav wished his son luck and encouraged him to be selfish. Ishan responded with a shloka from the Gita – “Anusasitaṃ manaḥ sukhaṃ janayati” (A disciplined mind brings happiness). This moment, Pranav said, brought tears to his eyes, signifying his son's renewed spirit.

The mystery surrounding Ishan Kishan's absence from the Indian team remains unsolved. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. guided by the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, his passion for the game continues to burn brightly.