Associating the last four Decembers of Ishan Kishan’s career, a book can be written, as the wicket-keeper opening batter saw life unfolding in different angles during this period. Exactly a year ago in December, he went through a personal slump which saw him reading Bhagavad Gita- a conversation between Arjuna and Lord Krishna, where just like Arjuna, Kishan fought two battles- one against his career, and another over the uncertainty of his career.

In December 2022, Kishan smashed a fine double century off just 126 balls in Chattogram against Bangladesh, as his previous fastest 200 in a men’s ODI was 138 balls, set by the former West Indies batter Chris Gayle against Zimbabwe in Canberra during the 2015 World Cup. 

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A year later, in that same month, when he asked for a break due to mental health, it didn’t get smoothed out to the team management, coached by Rahul Dravid, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and the leadership group, which saw his national contract getting turmoiled. 

Ishan Kishan's story of four Decembers through reading Bhagavad Gita

In December 2024, he was scrolling through his mobile phone when he came across a quote from Bhagavad Gita that intrigued the talented wicket-keeper batter, which prompted him to call his father and understand its meaning. Cut to the present, Ishan led the Jharkhand side to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) with the southpaw contributing 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.12, thanks to a 51-ball century in the final against Haryana.

“The boy who always brought a smile to everyone’s face stopped smiling. As parents, my wife and I used to cry. It was a difficult phase, and it has passed. He left Patna at the age of 12 and moved to Ranchi for cricket, and people were saying he had no interest in playing for India. It was painful to see those memes.” Ishan’s father reckoned during an interaction with Times of India.

Now, he puts his entire focus on the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26, and if he can continue the same success, it won’t be long before he finds himself sharing the Indian dressing room again with a new start in 2026.