'Be Patient': MS Dhoni's Advice For Ishan Kishan As Youngster Awaits Maiden India Call-up

Unlike some of his former U19 former teammates like Rishabh Pant, Khaleel Ahmed or Washington Sunday, Ishan Kishan is yet to play in international cricket. In fact, the highly-rated batsman is yet to earn a call-up from the senior national team.

But it looks like a call is just around the corner. The southpaw has been performing consistently in domestic circuit and his performance in the ongoing IPL 2020 has further enhanced his reputation. Ishan Kishan has been one of the best batsmen of the ongoing season and has played a key role in Mumbai Indians’ march to the final.

At the start of the tournament, he was not in Mumbai’s first-choice XI. But he has not looked back since getting a chance and is currently their highest scorer and fourth-highest overall, with 483 runs in 12 innings at an average of 53.66 and strike rate of 144.17. He also has the highest number of sixes (29) in this IPL so far.

MS Dhoni’s advice to Ishan Kishan:

As Ishan Kishan desperately waits for his first India call-up, he must be recalling the advice given to him by the legendary MS Dhoni in 2017. It was a time when the likes of Pant and Washington had already played for India while he was not even in contention for a call-up.

The 22-year old was sharing the Jharkhand dressing room with Dhoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy that year. And his childhood coach Uttam Mazumdar recently revealed Dhoni’s advice for Ishan Kishan during that season. The former India skipper had asked Kishan to stay patient

“MS and the others in the team used to call him Chhotu. That period, during which Ishan shared the dressing room with MS, was indeed a major experience for him,” Mazumdar told The Telegraph.

“MS used to tell him, ‘You have so many shots in your armoury, so you should just look to spend more time at the crease and be patient.’ Those words from MS motivated Ishan a lot, and the good listener and keen learner that he is, he keeps them in mind all the time.

“As a wicketkeeper too, he’s a safe bet and his fielding also shows how fit he is,” he added.

Ishan Kishan will be looking to finish IPL 2020 on a high when Mumbai Indians take on Delhi Capitals in the final on Tuesday.

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