Ishan Kishan’s mind rages no longer. The joy of leading Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title and the uncertainty surrounding him a day before India’s T20 World Cup squad selection are met with the same quiet stoicism.
The turbulence of recent years now finds calm in the verses of the Bhagavad Gita, which has become Kishan’s constant companion, as revealed by his father Pranav Pandey to PTI. For Kishan, the present moment matters most—and that moment belongs to Jharkhand’s historic SMAT triumph.
Ishan Kishan believes in living in the present, grounded in faith
“Bahut achha khele, bahut maja aya; jaldi aur baat hogi aur aise hi jeet te rahenge (We played really well and enjoyed it a lot. There will be more conversations soon, and we’ll keep winning like this),” Kishan said after receiving a rousing welcome at the Ranchi airport on Friday.
Under Kishan’s leadership, Jharkhand defeated Haryana by 69 runs in the final in Pune. The left-hander finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer, amassing 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of over 197.
In the final, Kishan smashed a blistering 101 off just 49 balls—his fifth century of the tournament—equaling India T20I opener Abhishek Sharma’s record for the most hundreds in a single SMAT season.
The journey, however, has not been without its dark hours—phases that eventually nudged Kishan towards spirituality.
According to his father, the idea of turning to the Bhagavad Gita came from Kishan’s mother, a doctor by profession.
“My mother suggested reading the Gita. She believes that if you’re under a lot of stress, you should keep your question in mind, open the Gita, and read the page you land on—you’ll find your answer there,” Pandey said. “I asked Ishan to do the same.”
“The Gita is always with him now. He keeps it in his kit bag and carries a pocket edition wherever he goes. Whenever something happens, he opens it and reads,” Pandey added.
The impact, he believes, is visible in Kishan’s batting.
“His maturity has increased. His batting has matured. He takes more responsibility and plays fewer rash shots now. Mentally, he’s much stronger.”
Pandey recalled a difficult phase that tested Kishan’s resilience. After returning from a county stint with Nottinghamshire due to injury, Kishan suffered a freak accident during a motorcycle test ride, injuring his leg and requiring stitches.
The incident ruled him out of contention for a call-up to India’s Test squad in England as a replacement for an injured Rishabh Pant. Instead, N Jagadeesan was drafted into the team.
“He was very depressed at that time. He never shows emotions openly, but as parents, we could sense it,” Pandey said. “Now he’s perfectly fine.”
Pandey firmly believes spirituality played a decisive role in Kishan’s resurgence. “I believe the spirituality he has imbibed has played a big role in this turnaround.”
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Rs 2 crore reward and renewed hope for Ishan Kishan
Fortunes are now turning in Kishan’s favour. The Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) announced a Rs 2 crore reward for the SMAT-winning team, acknowledging the significance of their historic triumph.
JSCA president Ajay Nath Shah Deo said the victory had captured national attention and expressed confidence in Kishan’s return to the Indian team.
“We are champions, and the whole country has noticed. I am sure Kishan will be back in the Indian team,” Shah Deo said.
Calling it a moment of pride for Jharkhand, he also praised Chief Minister Hemant Soren, a keen cricket enthusiast, for backing the team.
Shah Deo highlighted the collective effort behind the title win, praising players like Anukul Roy, Kumar Kushagra, and Sushant Mishra for their consistent performances over the years.
“This is very motivating for younger players. From here, Jharkhand will only move upwards and aim to be number one in all formats,” he said.
(By PTI Inputs)
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