Handle U-19 success with care: Ishan Kishan
Money and fame will come. But if it becomes the priority, one may fail in the longer run. The basic should not be forgotten.
ISHAN, Ex-India U-19 skipper
Being a teenage cricketer and yet sharing news space with the likes of Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar can be exhilarating. The members of the India team at the ICC U-19 World Cup must be going through the same.
The attention that the Prithvi Shaw-led side has got after entering the final of the global event will only rise if they are able to topple three-time champions Australia in the title clash on Saturday. It will be an occasion worth celebrating but one need to be mindful of handling success as well, says Ishan Kishan, India U-19 captain at the 2016 World Cup.
Kishan, whose side finished runners-up in that edition after losing to West Indies, feels that the platform helps cricketers fasttrack into the big league but one needs to be careful.
“With increased TV coverage and presence of selectors and scouts at U-19 events, it is a great platform for young cricketers. You are always in focus. A good performance at the World Cup can do great wonders. But one should not over-think about the success here,” Kishan says.
“It should work as an encouragement. Sometimes what happens is that as one graduates to the senior level, too much thought is given on the reputed and senior names that the cricketer gets to play with. The basic should not be forgotten, that is to watch the ball and not the name of the bowler.”
There are several names like Unmukt Chand and Saurabh Tiwary who are yet to replicate their U-19 success at the senior level. However, the opposite cases are also abundant. Yuvraj Singh, Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja have shown equal flair at the senior level like they showed at the U-19 level. Kishan himself has risen fast through the ranks. He has been a regular member of the India-A side and recently bagged a R6.2 crore deal from Mumbai Indians at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 auction.
“Money and fame will come. But if it becomes the priority, one may fail in the longer run. Personally, I have got a great chance and it is up to me how I utilise this chance. I am now part of the defending champions, and I am hoping to learn a lot,” he says.
Some of the current U-19 Indian team players like Nagarkoti (R3.2 crore – Kolkata Knight Riders), Shivam Mavi (R3 crore – KKR), Anukul Roy (R20 lakh MI), Abhishek Sharma (R55 lakh – Delhi Daredevils), Shaw (R1.2 crore- DD), Gill (R1.8 crore – KKR) have also bagged costly deals from IPL teams.
Kishan has been following the U-19 team’s matches and says they are mentally strong. The wicketkeeper-batsman from Jharkhand adds that the quality will hold them in good stead against Australia.
“I have watched their matches and I must say they have clicked as a team. You have a bunch of great pacers as well as batsmen who can win the match. Like the high-pressure match against Pakistan, the batsmen put up a great score with a ton by Shubman Gill. The bowlers then finished the job with finesse.