A return to the longest format remains the goal

Ishan Kishan, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has said he is eager to regain his place in the Test squad. Asked if he wanted to be part of the Test team, he replied: "One hundred percent." He added: "Anyone who has played Test cricket would love this format. We know its importance and how it helps one get better."

His comments came after he led East Zone to a victory in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal on Tuesday, an innings-and-210-run win over North East Zone. The 28-year-old has not played a Test since his debut in the West Indies in July 2023, and he shared that he fully enjoys the challenges of red-ball cricket, telling reporters: "I love this game. I enjoy it because when you are in the middle, the ball is moving, players are coming at you."

He also explained that his preference for Tests is not always believed. "It's easier to bat on flat tracks and it's fun as well, but competition in Tests is something different," he said. "People don't believe me when I say that, but I really do enjoy red-ball cricket."

The road back

Kishan's Test career has been short so far—only two appearances since his debut in 2023. For the South Africa series later that year, India opted for KL Rahul as their wicket-keeper. Since then, he has not played a red ball game for India, and he missed the entire white-ball calendar for 2024 and 2025, as reported by The Hindu. He has only been back in the T20I and ODI squads since the start of 2026.

His return to first-class cricket has also been rare. Before turning out in the Duleep Trophy on Tuesday, his last First Class match had been more than nine months earlier. He acknowledged that he may not get many chances in the domestic red-ball fixtures during a busy white-ball season for India, and he opined that it is highly likely that the Duleep Trophy will be his only opportunity to play red-ball cricket in this period, until early 2027.

But he said he's not letting the challenge deter him. "Switching formats isn't easy," he acknowledged, but he is willing to take it on. He also noted that he's aware that the path back to the Test team is tough, with a busy white-ball season ahead for India.

Competition and growth

Kishan also commented on the competition for a wicketkeeper spot. He mentioned that Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are doing well, and that he is happy for them despite being a competitor. "My job is to not think about what can go wrong for them. My job is to just keep getting better," he said.

His own performances in the Duleep Trophy are part of that effort. He led East Zone to a strong win, and he remains optimistic about making a comeback into India's Test squad in due time, as NewsBytes reported this week.