Ishan Kishan is set to make a dramatic return to the Indian Test squad after it is learnt that the BCCI and its chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, want the India wicketkeeper to join the Test squad in England after Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the remainder of the series. Ishan last played for India in November of 2023, in a T20I against Australia and has the experience of two Test matches – against West Indies earlier that year. Nonetheless, with Dhruv Jurel expected to take over keeping duties in Manchester and replace Pant for the final Test at The Oval, Ishan will be the backup keeper.
“The selection committee will add Ishan Kishan to the squad ahead of the fifth Test as Pant won’t be part of the final Test match, which will be played from July 31 to August 4 at The Oval,” a report in The Indian Express stated.
Ishan has gone through a roller-coaster ride in the last year. In 2024, he was infamously stripped of the BCCI’s Central Contract list after failing to comply with the board’s mandatory rule of playing domestic cricket. He then turned up for Jharkhand in domestic cricket during the 2024-25 season, eventually earning back his contract earlier this year in April. He is currently part of Northamptonshire in the County Cricket Division One, and has shown good form, with scores of 87 and 77.
