Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan marked his County Championship debut for Nottinghamshire in style, smashing a brisk 87 against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge on Monday. Playing with his signature flair, Kishan’s counter-attacking knock came off just 98 deliveries and featured 12 boundaries and a six, registering a strike rate of 88.77.
Facing a Yorkshire attack that included England spinner Dom Bess and New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke, Kishan looked untroubled as he peppered the boundary with confident strokeplay, offering a glimpse of the attacking brand he’s known for in international cricket.
The left-hander has joined Nottinghamshire on a short-term contract that includes two County Championship matches—against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge and Somerset at Taunton. He has been drafted in as a temporary replacement for South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, who is currently on national duty for a two-Test series in Zimbabwe.
The 25-year-old has previously featured in two Tests for India, scoring 78 runs in three innings, including a fifty. However, he has been more prolific in limited-overs formats. In ODIs, Kishan has scored 933 runs in 27 matches at an average of 42.40, including a double century and seven fifties. His T20I record includes 796 runs from 32 appearances, with a strike rate of 124.37 and six half-centuries.
After losing his BCCI central contract in 2023, Kishan fought his way back into the mix and is now listed in the board’s C-grade category. His selection for County cricket comes on the back of a solid IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he amassed 354 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate exceeding 152, including a century and a fifty.
Kishan’s aggressive yet composed approach in English conditions will be closely watched by selectors and fans alike, as he looks to re-establish himself in the red-ball format.
