County Championship: Signed for two matches, Ishan Kishan smashes 87 on debut

Ishan Kishan made an instant impact in his County Championship debut for Nottinghamshire, hammering a blistering 87 off just 98 deliveries against Yorkshire on Monday. Facing an attack featuring England’s Dom Bess and New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke, Kishan showcased his trademark aggressive flair, lacing his knock with 12 fours and a six at a strike rate nearing 89.Signed on a short-term contract to cover two Championship matches, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter has stepped in for South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne, who is currently on Test duty in Zimbabwe. Kishan’s stint includes the games against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge and Somerset in Taunton.For India, Kishan has featured in two Tests so far, with a fifty to his name, but his reputation primarily rests on his attacking white-ball exploits.

In ODIs, he averages over 42 with a double hundred to his credit, while his T20I record includes nearly 800 runs at a brisk strike rate of 124.

Kishan’s county appearance comes after a productive IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he struck 354 runs at a healthy average of 35.40 and a strike rate exceeding 152, including a century.

Having recently reclaimed his BCCI central contract — back in the C-grade bracket after missing out last year — Kishan’s lively start in England is timely as he seeks to keep himself in the selectors’ frame for future India assignments. For Nottinghamshire, the 26-year-old's fearless batting promises plenty of fireworks over the next few matches.