Ishan Kishan’s Duleep heroics spark Test selection debate

Ishan Kishan’s Duleep Trophy Form Fuels Test Selection Talk

• Performance:

  • Led East Zone to the Duleep Trophy title with scores of 270 and 80 in the final.
  • Scored 409 runs in three matches at an average >100.
  • Awarded Player of the Match in the final.

• Current Red‑Ball Credentials:

  • Only two Tests played, the last over three years ago.
  • Primarily a specialist batter in white‑ball internationals, but recent first‑class form revives his Test case.

• Selection Context (New Zealand tour, late November):

  • Wicket‑keeper competition: Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, and Kishan.
  • Selectors will need to decide whether to keep a third keeper‑batter or drop one.

• Other Players in the Fray:

  • Fast bowlers: Akash Deep (suits NZ conditions), Mukesh Kumar (12 wickets in Duleep Trophy), Harshit Rana (training at CoE, fitness pending).
  • Established pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar, with Prasidh Krishna’s fitness improving.

• Next Steps:

  • Selection Committee meeting scheduled for this week.
  • Squad likely to include many members from last year’s England tour, subject to injury status.

Key takeaway: Kishan’s dominant Duleep Trophy showing has put him squarely in the conversation for a Test spot, despite the existing depth in the wicket‑keeping department.