Watch: Ishan Kishan hits one-handed six to complete 86-ball hundred in his comeback innings in domestic cricket

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Ishan Kishan announced his comeback to domestic cricket with a hundred against Madhya Pradesh in the Buchi Babu Tournament on Wednesday, August 16. The 26-year-old brought up his hundred off just 86 deliveries.

Ishan Kishan scored 14 runs off his first 36 balls before smashing 36 in the next 24 deliveries. The southpaw batter brought up his hundred by hitting two back-to-back hundreds. The hundred came on the second ball of the 70th over as he stepped down the ground and hit a one-handed six off off-spinner Adheer Pratap Singh. He was eventually dismissed for 114 off 107 balls.

Earlier in the match, Madhya Pradesh were bundled out for 225 after an 84-run knock from Shubham S Kushwah. Saurabh Shekhar picked three wickets for 35 runs for Jharkhand, who finished Day 2 on 277/7 to take a 51-run lead.

“It is not a comeback, it is what it has always been. Comeback toh downfall hone pe hota hai. Par cricket mein toh downfall hua hi nahi. Woh tab bhi marta tha, aur ab bhi marta hai," a fan wrote, reacting to the hundred from Ishan Kishan.

Notably, Ishan Kishan has not played for the Indian team since November 2023. He opted out of the South Africa Tests citing mental fatigue and frustration due to lack of regular opportunities despite being in the squad.

Later, he ignored BCCI's suggestion to play domestic cricket before making his return to the senior Indian team, and as a result ended up losing his central contract.

Ishan Kishan has finally made his comeback to domestic cricket after BCCI's strict stance for international players to not overlook domestic cricket when not on national duty. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has also reiterated time and again that a player out of the team will first need to play domestic cricket, before making himself eligible for an India comeback.

"He will have to follow the rules. He will have to play domestic cricket," Shah told Times of India in a recent interview.

Ishan Kishan has also been named in Shreyas Iyer's Team D in Duleep Trophy 2024. His hundred in the Buchi Babu Tournament, and participation in the upcoming Duleep Trophy first-round matches from September 5, has made him one of the contenders for a spot in India squad for Test series vs Bangladesh from September 19.