Ishan Kishan, an explosive wicketkeeper-batter, has spoken about his ambition to return to the Indian team in all three format.

Kishan hasn't played in a match for India since November 2023 after being left off the BCCI's yearly contract list. In the five-match T20 International series against Australia, Kishan made his final appearance for India. He had been named to the Indian squad for the South Africa tour in every format, however he decided not to play due to personal issues. Perhaps the BCCI was irritated enough to keep Kishan and Shreyas Iyer off the central contract because Kishan did not play in any of Jharkhand's domestic matches.

Since his last appearance for India was in December of last year, Ishan has spoken out about the rivalry within the squad. This is particularly true in light of the recent form that players like Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant have displayed, which has earned them selection for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2024. Even for the Zimbabwe series, Dhruv Jurel, Jitesh Sharma, and Samson were picked ahead of Ishan.

"It was heartening to see Rishabh back in action. As far as competition goes, you love challenges and when you compete with all the quality cricketers, it enhances your game. And then when you make it you feel like you have earned it. I know it's not going to be easy. But I feel competition gives you that feeling of satisfaction. I enjoy it. I don't take any stress about it," he told the paper.

It is Kishan's stated goal to make an impact for the Indian squad in all three forms. "I see myself playing in all three formats. I have done well in T20Is, ODIs, and Tests as well. I want to be part of all three formats," he added.

With two Test appearances under his belt, Kishan has amassed 78 runs and a half-century. His white-ball cricket stats are encouraging: 933 runs in 27 one-day internationals (ODIs) at an average of 42.40, including a hundred and seven fifty-plus scores. With 32 games played, a strike rate of 124.37, and six fifty strikes, he has scored 796 runs in T20 Internationals. However, from November 2023, Kishan has been absent from the India squad.

Kishan has an optimistic and future-oriented outlook on failure and lost chances. He lives in the now, honing his abilities and making plans for what's to come.

"Keep myself fit and prepare for upcoming tournaments. I am not thinking too much about the future. I want to stay in the present. At this point in time, I am only focused on how to become a better and different player from what I was six months ago. I will work on a few innovative shots and on my wicket-keeping. These are the important things, rather than thinking about what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. I am waiting for the domestic season to kick off. I want to do well for Jharkhand and then let's see," he remarked.