• Source:JND
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India's wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will lead Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Trophy, a pre-season red-ball tournament in Tamil Nadu starting August 15.

As per ESPNcricinfo, initially not included in the team's long list, Kishan will join the squad in Chennai on Wednesday, taking on the leadership role for the pre-season tournament.

Kishan's decision to lead Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Trophy marks a significant step towards his comeback to first-class cricket. After a self-imposed break, Kishan expressed his desire to return to domestic cricket, prompting the Jharkhand State Cricket Association to include him in the squad.

This move is expected to pave the way for his return to the Ranji Trophy in the 2024-25 season. Notably, Kishan's absence from domestic cricket last season led to his removal from the BCCI's central contracts list, highlighting the importance of his return to the domestic circuit. His last first-class appearance was in December 2022.

"With Ishan, it was never about ability. It was only about whether he was ready to return. The decision was with him. When he was not included in the initial list, it was only because we hadn't heard from him. The moment he expressed his keenness to return, he was drafted in," a JSCA functionary said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Kishan's return to red-ball cricket is timely, as India prepares for a packed Test schedule of 10 matches over the next five months. However, his path to reclaiming a spot in the national team won't be straightforward. Kishan's Test debut came during India's West Indies tour last year, filling in for an injured Rishabh Pant, who was recovering from a car accident in December 2022. Now, with Pant likely to return to full fitness, Kishan faces stiff competition for a spot in the Indian Test team.

"When you take a break, people gossip about it a lot, they say a lot of things on social media. But I feel it's important to understand not everything is in players' hands. We can only make the best use of the break," Kishan had said in April.

"This is what adopting a good mindset is. There is nothing like I want to prove to someone. I just have to go there and enjoy. I have learned that you do not have to add pressure on yourself about these things, which are not in your hand," he added.