‘MS would tell him’ – Ishan Kishan’s coach reveals MS Dhoni’s advice that helped him immensely in his career

Ishan Kishan etched his name in the history books on Saturday as he became the fourth Indian and ninth overall batter to score a double hundred in ODIs. The 24-year-old smashed 210 off just 131 balls with the help of 24 fours and 10 sixes to help India to avoid a whitewash in the three-match series against Bangladesh. After his blistering knock, Kishan’s coach Uttam Majumdar gave an insight into the wicketkeeper-batter’s training and also revealed what MS Dhoni would tell Kishan before his India debut.

“Even before Ishan made his India debut, I know MS would tell him that if a talent like him doesn’t play for the country for a long time, he will be doing injustice not to anyone else but himself”, Majumdar said.

Majumdar stated that Kishan’s elder brother was also a talented cricketer but had to sacrifice sports for a medical degree. “His elder brother Raj Kishan was a very talented cricketer. But then the parents needed to take a call that one boy would pursue sport and the other education. So Raj being the elder sacrificed and pursued a medical degree”, he said.

“The first day Ishan came for training, he was so tiny, that I fed him with under-arm balls and that kid played perfect cover drives. The moment I saw a few cover drives from a six-year-old, I told Pranav ji, your son is special and he has to be unlucky if he doesn’t play for India”, he added.

Ishan Kishan scored the fastest double hundred in ODIs

During his swashbuckling knock in the third ODI, Kishan put his wide variety of strokeplay on display and smashed 10 humongous sixes. The Bihar-born batter also broke the long-standing record of the fastest 200 by Chris Gayle as he reached the landmark in 126 balls.

“You saw those 10 sixes today and what you must have realised is the kind of power he generates despite such a small frame. It hasn’t happened overnight. There would be months of training when he would bat two sessions and play at least 500 to 600 balls at the nets per day. Out of them, at least 200 balls were about dedicated power-hitting”, he said.

“I would make him continuously play big shots and he would never stop till he got it right. He is only 24 but he has seen a fair bit of ups and downs. He is mentally very strong. I always tell him that the past is history. For me, the past has never mattered and that’s what I always tell Ishan”, he further added.

With his scintillating innings, Kishan has made a strong case for his selection in the next year’s ODI World Cup as Shikhar Dhawan is having a tough time with the bat this year.