Ishan Kishan takes a break from cricket; withdraws from Test series of India’s tour of South Africa

India’s opening wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan recently stepped down from the upcoming test series against South Africa of India’s tour of South Africa 2023-24. India and South Africa will play a two-match test series as a part of the next cycle of the World Test Championship 2023-25. Ishan has been consistently a part of the Indian squad since the Asia Cup 2023 and has played consistent matches first in the ODI World Cup 2023, followed by Australia’s tour of India and the Whiteball series of India’s tour of South Africa. 

As per a close source of the Indian cricket board, Kishan has given the reason of mental fatigue for backing down from the test series due to back-to-back participation in multiple series. Rohit Sharma will be leading India’s test squad for the series against South Africa. India recently won the ODI series against South Africa after making it a draw with the Proteas in the three-match T-20 series. 

Ishan Kishan steps away from Test Series against South Africa due to mental fatigue 

“He informed the team management that he is having mental fatigue and wants a break from cricket for some time. Everyone agreed to it,” said a close source. 

The Indian cricket board secretary Jay Shah released a statement about Ishan Kishan missing the upcoming test series against South Africa for personal reasons. The statement read, “Ishan Kishan has requested the BCCI to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicketkeeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad. The men’s selection committee has named KS Bharat as a replacement.” 

India’s Test Squad for tour of South Africa 2023: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Prasidh Krishna.