A few years earlier, the price tag of 15.25 crores was a staggering number. And when a young man of 23 has to justify this price tag, it can just turn into a kind of pressure that’s too tough to bear. First, Ishan Kishan did not orchestrate the price in 2022. His franchise found him worthy enough to pay this amount, and he had no hand in it. So, for anyone to say ‘Oh, he was paid 15 crores’ was actually unfair to the young man.
Call it the pressure of expectations or the pressure of the price tag, Ishan did not have the best of seasons in 2023 and 2024. So much so that his franchise was forced to release him ahead of the mega auction. His India career also nosedived, and he made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Left out of the team and attitude questioned, it must have been very hard on Ishan. But then in adversity, you find your true mojo. Only the tough survive, and Ishan is one such character.
While he made a strong comeback with a 100 at the Buchi Babu, the truth is no one watched it. He had to make a statement in the IPL with a billion people watching and make himself relevant again. Batting with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma was another challenge for Ishan. They have redefined the IPL batting template, and Ishan had to compete to stay relevant. Not only did he do so, but used the platform to mount a strong case for a possible India comeback. And now with the World Cup just days away, it will be Ishan Kishan who will open India’s batting with Abhishek Sharma, completing an epic turnaround for him.
How difficult was it for someone like him? While it is fantastic for the player and the family to be paid many crores, once the thing settles in, the money can be a huge burden to deal with. All of a sudden, people started to expect the world from Ishan. It is as if, because he had been paid the high price, he had to do extraordinary things in every game. To what extent could he cocoon himself from the outside pressures and look inward? All he needed to do was focus on his cricket and leave out the noise. Easier said than done. When social media trolls are at it all the time and question you 24/7, things do get to you more often than not.
But in all of this, Ishan got better as a cricketer. He had to dig deep and rediscover himself. Find his true calling to stay relevant. A better person who is better equipped to deal with the world. And that, at the end of the day, is a far bigger life lesson than anything else for the young man.
We don’t know if India can defend the world title. We also don’t know if Ishan will make a mark in the World Cup. But what we do know is that Ishan is now used to handling pressure. He has seen it all and has learnt a lot. The celebration after his 100 was evidence of what it means to him. Chances are, he won’t let the World Cup get away from him.
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