Nottinghamshire have turned to India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for their next two County Championship fixtures, filling the gap left by Kyle Verreynne’s call-up for South Africa’s Test tour of Zimbabwe later this month.
Kishan, 26, may be better known for his white-ball work, yet his first-class record is solid: 3447 runs in 58 outings, eight centuries, 17 fifties and 118 catches to go with 11 stumpings. Those numbers, together with his appetite for new challenges, persuaded the Trent Bridge hierarchy to act quickly once Verreynne’s departure was confirmed.
“I’m feeling very excited to get my first taste of playing county cricket in England, and it will be a great chance to showcase my skills,” Kishan said. “I want to make sure I am the best cricketer I can be, and playing in English conditions will really help me to learn new skills.
“Trent Bridge is such a famous ground that is well-known in India and around the world, and I am really excited that I will be playing there.”
Head coach Peter Moores, who has long valued overseas players prepared to immerse themselves in Championship life, welcomed the signing. “We want players to be themselves and to bring their own game,” Moores said, “and something that especially excites me about Ishan is how keen he is to be involved in county cricket.
“He brings proven quality in his ball-striking as a hard-hitting middle-order batter, and he’s keen to move his red-ball game forward, which I’m sure will make him hungry to perform.”
Subject to registration, Kishan is available against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge on 22 June and Somerset at Taunton on 29 June. He will become the latest Indian to feature in this year’s Championship, joining Tilak Varma (Hampshire), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Yorkshire later in the summer) and Yuzvendra Chahal (Northamptonshire).
Nottinghamshire sit top of Division One after four wins from seven, and hope the fresh energy of their new recruit helps maintain that momentum.
