Aakash Chopra Believes IPL 2025 is Ishan Kishan’s Chance for an International Comeback
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has emphasized that the IPL 2025 season could be a pivotal opportunity for wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan to revive his international career. According to Chopra, Kishan has recently fallen off the radar, and a strong performance in the upcoming IPL could reignite his prospects.
A few years ago, Kishan was regarded as India’s next potential wicketkeeper-batter across all formats. However, his exclusion from the BCCI’s central contracts list dealt a significant blow to his career. The selectors took this step after Kishan was found prioritizing IPL commitments over domestic cricket, a decision that also affected Shreyas Iyer.
Chopra Backs Kishan to Shine in IPL 2025
In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra highlighted IPL 2025 as a critical platform for Ishan Kishan. Despite scoring runs in domestic cricket, Kishan has seemingly disappeared from the national conversation. Chopra stated, "The biggest opportunity is for Ishan Kishan. For whatever reason, he has completely disappeared from the radar. He played the Ranji Trophy, scored runs, and is doing everything right, but no one is talking about him."
Chopra also reminded fans of Kishan’s historic double-century in ODIs, achieved against Bangladesh in 2022. He emphasized Kishan’s ability to change the game with his aggressive batting and six-hitting prowess. "He has an ODI double century. How many players have achieved that? This guy can hit sixes and shift gears effortlessly," Chopra added.
Chopra Advocates for Kishan as an Opener
Chopra expressed surprise at Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquiring Kishan despite already having a strong opening pair in Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. He believes Kishan should only open in T20 cricket, as batting out of position could hinder his performance. "Personally, I was surprised why SRH picked him to bat at No. 3. He’s an opener, so let him open. However, with no opening slot available, Kishan will have to adapt, which isn’t ideal in T20 cricket. Still, this is a great opportunity for him," Chopra explained.
With SRH’s top order already settled, it remains to be seen how Kishan fits into the lineup. While he could potentially bat at No. 3, Heinrich Klaasen’s presence might limit his wicketkeeping opportunities.
Kishan’s IPL Journey
Ishan Kishan joined Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2018 and played a key role in their title-winning campaigns in 2019 and 2020. The 2020 season was particularly remarkable for Kishan, as he amassed 516 runs in 14 matches at an average of 57.33 and a strike rate of 145.76. However, his form has dipped in recent years. In the 2023 season, he managed only 320 runs at an average of 22.86 and a strike rate of 148.84.
As a result, MI did not retain him, and SRH secured his services for INR 11.25 crore. Overall, Kishan has played 105 IPL matches, scoring 2,644 runs at an average of 28.43 and a strike rate of 135.87.
As IPL 2025 approaches, all eyes will be on Ishan Kishan to see if he can reclaim his place in the national team with a standout performance.
