Two Decembers ago, Ishan Kishan found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons. The wicketkeeper-batter had reportedly sought a break from India’s set-up, citing mental fatigue, only to be spotted holidaying overseas. The episode was the starting point in a series of events that culminated in him being stripped of his BCCI annual contract.

Fast forward to Saturday (December 20), and less than 48 hours after leading Jharkhand to a historic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph — the State’s maiden BCCI title in senior cricket— Kishan was back in the news for all the right reasons.

Twenty-five months after his last international appearance, the left-hander was named in India’s squad for the Men’s T20 World Cup.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited form and role clarity as key factors behind the recall. “He bats at the top in white-ball cricket and has been in good form. He has played for India before and has a double hundred in one-day cricket,” Agarkar said.

“He wasn’t in the Indian team because there were players like Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant ahead of him. We felt a ’keeper at the top gives us more solidity.”

That Kishan was firmly on the selectors’ radar was evident in Pune on Saturday. Not only did he register his second century of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — taking his tally to 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.32 — he was also seen in a conversation with two national selectors shortly after lifting the trophy.

Kishan’s recall, much like Karun Nair’s return to the Test side for the England tour, sends a strong message to domestic cricketers grinding it out across the country. Consistent excellence remains difficult to ignore. The onus now shifts to Kishan to justify the faith placed in him and complete a redemption arc few would have predicted two years ago.