Ishan Kishan's comeback confirmed by Gautam Gambhir? Wicketkeeper-batsman drops a massive hint

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed coach of the Indian cricket team, is set to begin his journey with the upcoming Sri Lanka tour on July 27. As Indian selectors prepare to finalize the squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, Ishan Kishan has given hints about his potential comeback to the national set-up.

Amid the buzz around the announcement of India’s T20I and ODI squads for the Sri Lanka tour, all attention is focused on the potential return of Ishan and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer to the Indian cricket team.

Drama unfolds ahead of the Sri Lanka tour, as Shreyas Iyer's return likely but Ishan Kishan's fate uncertain

Iyer has been out of the national set-up since February, while Ishan has been sidelined since December. Both players lost their central contracts after ignoring BCCI's call to participate in the Ranji Trophy.

Now, with Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, Chief of the Indian selection committee, at the helm, speculation is rife about whether the young wicketkeeper-batter and Iyer will be given another chance in the upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.

According to InsideSport, Iyer's return for the upcoming ODI against Sri Lanka is almost confirmed thanks to his great rapport with Gambhir, the former KKR mentor, as well as having cleared all things with BCCI secretary Jay Shah over the Ranji Trophy participation. But Kishan's prospects for an India comeback remained uncertain.

The report further claimed that the BCCI is still furious with Ishan over his failure to fulfill Ranji Trophy duties for Jharkhand. However, the youngster cleared his side by claiming that he was mentally exhausted and was not feeling well, and that's why he took a break from the game, but it is uncertain whether this clarification will work for him.

Ishan Kishan eyes comeback amid speculation for India's Sri Lanka tour

Apart from BCCI's discontent, Rishabh Pant is already back in Team India, and with Sanju Samson's consistent performances and Dhruv Jurel's emergence, Kishan's future is, at least for now, uncertain. Amid the different opinions on social media, Ishan posted a video of him training at the Nets on Instagram.

In the video, the young wicketkeeper-batter can be seen hitting the ground and honing his batting at the nets during an intense training session, hinting at his possible comeback in national colors for India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka later this month. Ishan captioned the video: "Preparation is key🦾🏏"

Watch here how Ishan Kishan preparing for the upcoming season

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A post shared by Ishan Kishan (@ishankishan23)

Duleep Trophy offers chance to Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer to impress for Test selection

Meanwhile, Jay Shah has reportedly reiterated that even top cricketers must prioritize domestic commitments during breaks from national duties. However, exceptions will be made for senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah.

It is being said that the BCCI wants Test specialists, excluding Kohli, Rohit, and Bumrah, to participate in at least one or two Duleep Trophy matches in August, as it will serve as preparation for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home.

It will also present an opportunity for players like Kishan and Iyer to stake a claim in India’s Test squad, considering the team’s packed schedule of 10 red-ball matches this year, including a crucial five-match series in Australia later this year.