Ishan Kishan says Rahul Dravid taught him about professionalism
Ishan Kishan is one of the most promising young wicketkeeper-batsmen in the country right now. The 17-year-old came into limelight when he led the Indian Under-19 team to the final of the Under-19 World Cup 2016 in Bangladesh. He played the event under the guidance of Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid.
In a recent interview, the Patna lad talked about the influence of Rahul Dravid in his game. He said, “I learnt a lot from Dravid... he taught me about professionalism. How to react on and off the field every time I play. I hope this will help me in the IPL as well as in future.”
Kishan’s game anticipation skills impressed the Indian Under-19 coach so much that he chose Kishan as the captain of the team. The left-handed batsman also featured in the recently concluded Indian Premier League for the newly formed franchise Gujarat Lions where he grabbed some eyeballs.
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The wicketkeeper-batsman also talked about his experience in IPL. He said, “The IPL changed a lot of things in my life. It was a good platform for youngsters. You can show your cricketing abilities and prove yourself. I played my first IPL and it was a good experience but I still have a lot to learn.”
Kishan also represents the same state – Jharkhand – as the Indian limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and has also played alongside him. He said, “I got a chance to play alongside Dhoni in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this year. His tips helped me grow as a player.”
Touted as the next Virat Kohli of Indian cricket, the youngster has experienced the responsibilities of a captain from a fairly young age. The Patna-born cricketer was introduced to cricket by his elder brother. He said, “My brother used to play cricket as a professional and I was only there for fun.
"Coach Santosh Kumar saw me playing and then went to our father and told him that he was a good player and let him play and I was into cricket,”
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When asked about how he would like to spend his time when he is done with cricket, Kishan promptly replied Travel. He said, “I would love to travel and I think every cricketer likes it... but right now I do not have time to travel and visit my favourite destinations. As of now, I am only travelling for cricket, let’s see what happens later.”