Ishan Kishan, the most expensive player in the IPL 2022 mega auction, has spoken about his ‘competitor’ Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper position in India’s limited-overs side. While Pant has proven his abilities at the highest level, Kishan is still in the early stages of his international career, having only played three ODIs and eight T20Is.
Pant and Kishan have been friends since the U19 World Cup in 2016 when the latter captained the Indian team. They’ve started together, and India is fortunate to have two left-handed wicketkeeper batsmen who are both dangerous.
Ishan Kishan on Rishabh Pant
Pant began to slot down the line-up in the middle-order as he played domestic cricket, IPL cricket, and international cricket, and has taken on the finishing role for whichever side he is playing for. Kishan, on the other hand, continues to prefer the opener’s position, which is why, in the absence of first-choice players, Team India can fit both of them into the playing XI, particularly in the shorter format.
Kishan stated that it has never occurred to him to play to replace Pant in the lineup and that it has never even occurred to him.
“Oh yes, he’s [Rishabh Pant] a very good friend. Whenever both of us are around, you’ll find us hanging out a lot with each other. We just keep watching movies whenever we find the time. We also talk a lot about cricket with each other about the game, what could’ve been done differently. I speak my mind with him, and he does the same. Never once has it crossed my mind that I want his place and I can assure you, that’s been the case with him too. And most importantly, when we are in the middle of our cricket routines, we don’t even think we’re competing with each other,” he said.
Kishan went on to say that a competition with a player of Pant’s caliber would be fun and that he enjoys wicketkeeping. The 23-year-old struggled to get his strike rate up during the three innings against the West Indies.
“When you have good competition going with a talented player, there’s great fun to it too. You begin to realize those important things all by yourself-play good cricket and everything else will take care of itself. I love wicket-keeping so whenever an opportunity comes, I’ll try and give it my best,” he added.
