And… just like that, India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan raced to his 2nd ODI ton in the second IND vs AFG encounter in Lucknow, on Wednesday. Making a comeback into the format after being ignored for almost three years, the 27-year-old brought up his first 50+ score, after 1,019 days (the last time he scored 50+ was on Sep 2, 2023).
71-ball 100 for Ishan Kishan
Coming in at the fall of Rohit Sharma for 48, Ishan Kishan started a bit tentatively, but picked up pace and reached his ton in only 71 deliveries, slamming 14 fours and 4 sixes. In fact, the way he reached the landmark, was quite special in itself. He blasted pacer Bilal Sami for three consecutive fours, to raise the bat, for one more time in his international career.
- Fewest innings to 1000 ODI runs (India)
- 19 – Shubman Gill
- 24 – Virat Kohli/Shikhar Dhawan
- 25 – Navjot Sidhu/Shreyas Iyer
- 26 – Ishan Kishan
It was a special day for him in office, for another reason too. The southpaw became the 4th fastest Indian batter to reach 1000 runs in the format — in 26 innings. The record is held by Shubman Gill, who crossed the mark in 19 innings, followed by Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan in 24, and Navjot Sidhu and Shreyas Iyer in only 25 innings.
Now, what this innings from Ishan does is, increase the pressure on the selectors to regularly include him in the ODI playing XI. This series, if Virat Kohli was available (out due to niggle), it would have been difficult for the Jharkhand player to get in, but he has seized this opportunity with both hands.
Selectors can’t ignore anymore
Just to test the batter, Shreyas Iyer was and KL Rahul were moved a rung below their usual numbers; and Ishan did not disappoint. To be under that kind of pressure and then perform… hats off to him. All these performances too, are due to the solid work he has put in, in the domestic circuit, with runs coming everywhere.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 517 in 10 matches at an average of 57.44, and finished as the highest run-getter. Then this year in T20Is, he played 13, and scored 532 runs, including a ton. Lastly, 602 runs in the IPL 2026 meant, the selectors couldn’t ignore him anymore, and with a ton vs Afghanistan here, Ajit Agarkar & Co. will have him on their mind, in the lead up to the 2027 World Cup.
