Ishan Kishan on Monday said taking up Jharkhand’s captaincy role in 2024 helped him grow as a person, as a cricketer and as a leader of men, keeping him away from his wild child days. After losing the BCCI central contract in late 2023, Kishan returned to his state side, and accepted the leadership role, which he gladly continues to do whenever available. After a tumultuous phase, Kishan has now returned to the India fold albeit in the white ball formats.
Kishan Emphasizes Personal Accountability in Team Performance
In a recent post-day press conference, Ishan Kishan underscored the importance of taking responsibility for performance within the team. He stated, “You have to take responsibility. If you don’t take it now, when will you? It’s not like I am a 22-year-old and have just broken into the team.” Kishan reflected on his earlier experiences, noting how he and his teammates relied heavily on senior players to lead the scoring, emphasizing a shift in mindset towards personal accountability as they mature in their roles.
Leading East Zone, Kishan made a brilliant 270 to take his side to 708 all out in their first innings against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final. Because i always kept the team goal first, “It was a very good innings. I could have played attacking shots in many moments, but I think when you are batting on such a big stage, it is very important to prioritise what the team decides on the total first.
So, how has the captaincy changed the 28-year-old?
“But now, being an established part of the squad, I feel it is crucial that I take up the primary role of scoring runs and making sure the team’s total climbs because of me,” he said. “But when you are the captain, it becomes your duty to help them, because if your teammates are improving, ultimately you will achieve the team’s goals,” he said. “I think when you are the captain of the team, the first thing is situational awareness…you have to stay alert the entire day on the field to understand what is happening and what isn’t. You have to take care of all your teammates.
