“Used to cry…”- Ishan Kishan’s father reacts to his son’s heroics in SMAT 2025/26

subhradeep-choudhury — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:28:36 GMT

Ishan Kishan’s father reacts to his son’s heroics in SMAT 2025/26

It was only last December when Ishan Kishan was criticized for not turning up to the domestic cricket even after not playing for the Indian side, which saw his central contract being terminated. Now, a year later, he has led the Jharkhand side to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025/26 victory.

In that final, Ishan Kishan smashed a fine knock of 101 runs in just 49 deliveries with the help of six boundaries and 10 sixes at a strike rate of 206, which saw them lay down the platform of posting 262/3 at the end in their allotted 20 overs of the first inning. Kishan’s father looked back at the tough phase of his son.

“The boy (Ishan) 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.” Ishan Kishan’s father said in an interaction with Times of India (TOI).

Ishan Kishan’s father recalls his son’s tough phase

With the superb knock, it will be a chance for the wicket-keeper opening batter to break into the national side as a potential replacement for Sanju Samson, who keeps getting ignored in the shortest format by the management.

“When I was not selected in the Indian team, I felt quite bad because I was doing well. But I told myself that if I am not selected with this sort of performance, then maybe I have to do more. Maybe I have to make my team win. Maybe we have to do well as a unit.” Kishan addressed a discussion with Sportstar.

“It is definitely the happiest moment, because we have never won domestic tournaments under my captaincy. And, this was something where you had to prove yourself. There are times when you doubt yourself, but when you win it, it’s all done, and you know what quality you have, what changes you can make to your game, how you can turn the game around.” The southpaw noted.