A discarded Indian batsman recently spoke about how a current India star helped him cope and revived his mental space following his call-up for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, who has been out of the Indian pecking order since taking a break due to personal reasons, revealed how opening all-rounder Hardik Pandya has provided him with imperative help.

Echoing the same line, Ishan told TOI in a chat:

“I’m very lucky to have guys like Hardik around me who have talked to me about it. There are times in cricket when you feel really down. And it’s not just for me, it’s for all cricketers. But if you find that neutral point, you will overcome it. The skills are always there, it’s just a mental thing. How you are dealing with things at that moment. “I’ve been very lucky to be in a very healthy area throughout my career.”

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Ishan Kishan gets India call-up

For 26-year-old Ishan, it has been eleven months since Ishan Kishan last represented India. His previous appearance was in a T20I against Australia in Guwahati.

Since then, Kishan has been working hard in the domestic circuit, determined to catch the selectors’ attention once again. After taking a personal break during last year’s tour of South Africa, he rejuvenated himself during a long training camp in Baroda alongside teammate and Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya and has consistently featured in every available match.

Starting from the DY Patil T20 tournament, Kishan steadily regained his form and became a mainstay in the national set-up. His involvement has spanned multiple competitions including the IPL, the Buchi Babu multi-day tournament for Jharkhand, the Duleep Trophy, the Iran Cup and now the Ranji Trophy. His centuries in the Duleep and Ranji Trophies earned him a place in the India A team for the tour of Australia.

For someone who once regularly saw his name in the Indian team lists, this India A selection has been a significant milestone and he will be eager to seize the opportunity in a bid to return to the senior team.

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