Ishan Kishan Joins Nottinghamshire for County Championship Matches

Kishan Signs with Nottinghamshire

Ishan Kishan has become the third Indian cricketer in just ten days to secure a contract for the County Championship in England. Following in the footsteps of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma, who recently signed with Yorkshire and Hampshire, respectively, Kishan has now committed to a short-term deal with Nottinghamshire, where he will participate in two matches.

Kishan Takes Over from Kyle Verreynne

Kishan steps in as a temporary replacement for South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, who is set to travel to Zimbabwe for a two-match Test series this month. During Verreynne's absence, Kishan will take on the wicketkeeping duties for two County Championship fixtures.

Upcoming Matches

His first match is scheduled against Yorkshire from June 22 to 26 at Trent Bridge, followed by a game against Somerset from June 29 to July 2 in Taunton.

Kishan's Opportunity to Stay Match Fit

Although Ruturaj Gaikwad will be playing for Yorkshire, he and Kishan will not face each other, as Gaikwad's stint begins in mid-July. This opportunity allows Kishan to maintain his match fitness. He was not included in India's Test squad for the series against England, with Dhruv Jurel being chosen instead. By playing County cricket, Kishan remains available as a backup in case of any injuries to the team. Returning to India and obtaining a UK visa on short notice could have posed challenges.

Kishan's First County Experience

This will be Kishan's debut in County cricket. He has previously played 58 first-class matches, accumulating 3,447 runs, including eight centuries and 17 fifties, along with 118 catches and 11 stumpings.

Kishan's Excitement for County Cricket

In a statement from Nottinghamshire CCC, Ishan Kishan expressed:

"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. 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."

Growing Presence of Indian Players in County Cricket

Kishan is the latest addition to a growing list of Indian players participating in County cricket in 2024. Alongside Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, and Yuzvendra Chahal, who is returning to Northamptonshire this month, Kishan aims to make the most of this opportunity in the English climate.