India’s once first-choice Test wicketkeeper, Ishan Kishan, may currently find himself out of the national spotlight, but he reminded everyone of his class with a fighting century in Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy opener against Tamil Nadu in Coimbatore.
Kishan Leads Jharkhand Recovery with a Captain’s Knock
At 27, Kishan finds himself lower in the pecking order for India’s wicketkeeping duties, behind Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, and even N Jagadeesan. However, that hasn’t dimmed his hunger for runs. On October 15, 2025, Kishan delivered under pressure, notching up a crucial century while captaining Jharkhand.
Batting at No.5, Kishan walked in with his team struggling at 106/4. Things only got worse as Jharkhand slumped to 157/6, staring at a possible collapse. But Kishan held firm and built a vital century partnership with No.8 Sahil Raj, steering his side to safer ground in tough conditions.
It was not just the runs but the context that made the knock special. Playing on Jagadeesan’s home turf in Tamil Nadu, Kishan’s innings had grit, flair, and leadership written all over it—a true captain’s performance under pressure.
Gurjapneet Singh Shines for Tamil Nadu
While Kishan took the plaudits with the bat, Gurjapneet Singh—the young left-arm pacer from Chennai Super Kings—was the standout bowler for Tamil Nadu. He ripped through Jharkhand’s top order, claiming three of the first four wickets to fall. At the time of reporting, Gurjapneet had impressive figures of 3/51 from 16 overs, showing his growing promise in the domestic circuit.
A Day for the Wicketkeepers
Interestingly, it wasn’t just Kishan who had a good day with the bat among wicketkeepers. His predecessor in the Indian Test team, KS Bharat, also struck a century for Andhra in their Ranji game. With Pant returning and young talents pushing through, the race for the keeper’s slot continues to heat up, but performances like these from Kishan and Bharat keep the selectors thinking.
Final Word
Kishan’s century may not immediately catapult him back into the Indian Test XI, but it sends a strong message—he’s far from done. With consistent performances in domestic cricket, the Jharkhand skipper could well force his way back into national contention.
