Dhoni Initially Rose to Prominence with a Remarkable Century Against Pakistan; Now, Kishan’s Debut Display of Maturity Has Also Come Against Pakistan.
“Where are you batting?” Satyam Kumar messaged his friend Ishan Kishan a day before India’s match against Pakistan. Ishan’s response came as, “Neeche shayad paanch pe (Perhaps down the order at No 5).” This reply prompted Satyam to give his friend and former roommate at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel in Ranchi a call, offering words of encouragement as Ishan was being placed out of his usual position.
“I’ll fight, brother… scoring against Pakistan at No. 5 might prove to be a game-changer for me,” Ishan assured Satyam over the phone from Kandy.
“He has always been a very positive boy. I have known him for the past 13 years. Ishan, Monu Kumar (Jharkhand seamer), and myself, we have spent so much time together. I was the one who taught him how to cook Maggi,” Satyam chuckled as he recalled their shared memories.
When Ishan Kishan was just 12 years old, he relocated to a SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) quarter in Doranda, Ranchi. In this new setting, he shared the apartment with two individuals who were twice his age. Satyam reminisced, saying, “They used to cook food, and Ishan, who had no clue about cooking, was given the job to clean the utensils.” One day, Satyam inquired about Ishan’s dinner, to which he replied, “chips and coke.” It was then that Satyam took it upon himself to teach Ishan how to prepare Maggi, which subsequently became Ishan’s go-to meal.
On Saturday, Ishan Kishan stepped up to bat at the unfamiliar position of No. 5, but during his impressive knock of 82, he demonstrated his adaptability.
Satyam highlighted a crucial reason why Ishan’s adjustment was so seamless: “He has played all his cricket on a matting wicket, whether it was in Patna or Ranchi. In Bihar and Jharkhand, only Jamshedpur had turf wickets because of the Keenan Stadium. In Ranchi, the first turf wicket was at JSCA International Stadium, which was inaugurated in 2013. He might not possess the elegant style of some left-handed batters. He might not be a delight to the eye, but he is a destructive player who knows how to accumulate runs. That’s the essence of Ranchi cricket. Even Mahi bhaiya (MS Dhoni) used to play in a similar fashion.”
Doranda in Ranchi holds a special significance, having produced two wicketkeepers for India. One is the legendary former India captain, MS Dhoni, and the other is Ishan Kishan, who demonstrated on Saturday that he belongs at the international level. MS Dhoni’s cricketing journey began at the MECON cricket stadium, while Ishan’s started at SAIL’s cricket ground, located just a kilometer away from Dhoni’s residence.
Twelve years ago, when MS Dhoni famously hit the winning six at Wankhede, a young 12-year-old boy in Patna was packing his bags, preparing to move to Ranchi in pursuit of a brighter cricketing future.
The proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ truly encapsulates Ishan Kishan’s cricketing journey, which began nearly 19 years ago when he accompanied his elder brother Raj Kishan to the Bihar Cricket Academy at the Moin-ul-Haq Cricket Stadium in Patna. At that time, Uttam Mazumdar, who served as the head coach at the academy, initially rejected Ishan due to his young age. However, Raj persisted and insisted that he be allowed to face a few balls, warning that he would start crying otherwise.
Reflecting on that moment, Mazumdar expressed his disbelief, saying, “I can’t believe I rejected him once. Now look at him. What a knock he has played. He has earned his place now.” Despite his initial rejection, Mazumdar still believes that Ishan should open the innings or bat at No. 3. He commended Ishan’s tenacity, likening it to that of a boxer, noting that Ishan never shies away from a challenge.