New Delhi, February 16 There is a famous Asha Bhosle number from the 1960 Bollywood blockbuster 'Waqt' which certainly wouldn't be on Ishan Kishan's playlist.
"Aage bhi jaane na tu, pechhe bhi jaane na tu, jo bhi hai bas yahi ek pal hai."
However, the lines resonate with how the 27-year-old from Patna turned his career around from a point when the Indian cricket ecosystem was about to give up on him.
Rishabh Pant had made a comeback into the T20 World Cup-winning team, Dhruv Jurel was doing well, Sanju Samson was a constant presence, and Jitesh Sharma was a street-smart player – everyone had something to offer.
If someone is as low as number five in the pecking order, where did Kishan stand? A flamboyant stroke-maker who couldn't actually take the boredom and stress of living out of a suitcase without knowing where the next opportunity would come from.
In a time where mental health issues are no longer considered taboo, Kishan needed a break as he was emotionally drained and needed rejuvenation. All he got was a selectorial snub, where his central contract was cancelled, and he was deemed not serious about playing domestic cricket.
"It started the very next day when people literally assumed that he was not serious about his cricket, he didn't want to play domestic cricket. All sorts of things were being written, and he never reacted, just kept a smile and worked hard."
"To live in the present is difficult, but he did that as the process became sacrosanct for him," Anshumat Srivastava, his best friend, who has been like a family, relived the last two years.
"What you see today against Pakistan is a result of the process that he started following two years ago. Runs are just a byproduct of that process," said Anshumat, who has been a silent witness to his daily grind, away from the prying eyes.
Along with the India batter, Anshumat is also a co-founder of the Ishan Kishan Cricket Academy in Patna.
Whether Anshumat, who played collegiate tennis in the United States, or Kishan's father Pranav Pandey, or his doctor brother Raj Kishan, everyone formed a cordon around the talented southpaw – a cocoon that had love, security, and care that he needed in that comeback journey.
Kishan's entire routine changed.
He started meditation for better concentration. On his father Pranav's insistence, he started reading the Bhagavad Gita.
On the training front, he would go to his academy twice a day to do his skills training. He employed his own chef, who took care of nutrition as he avoids eating hotel food. His sleeping patterns and rest were well monitored.
While Kishan didn't say anything public, the questions about his commitment to Indian cricket must have hurt him.
"During the time he took that break, he was tired and spent, he needed that break. His commitment to Indian cricket was questioned, and he dealt with it in his own way."
"It was never like I have to make these many runs in Ranji, these many in SMAT or Hazare Trophy, even in the NZ series and in domestic cricket, his average has been fabulous."
Ishan is a fun-loving guy and a people's person, who loves his near and dear ones around him.
Anshumat travelled to Colombo to not just watch the Pakistan game but to also be around his "brother".
"He loves to crack a joke, share a good laugh, and keep things light around the group. There is a perception about light-hearted people that they aren't serious, but that's at the end of the day what it is. Perception."
"I will tell you, after scoring runs in tough conditions, the first thing that he does after being back in the hotel is recovery, as there is a match against the Netherlands on Wednesday," the friend revealed.
When he was doing skills training at his own academy in Patna, one person, who gave the maximum inputs was his elder brother Raj.
"Raj also played junior cricket and is now a doctor. No one knows Ishan's game inside out as Raj and he always has good advice for him."
If one has found clarity in his shot selection, it has been the hours of simulation training on the centre wicket at his academy.
"What you saw against New Zealand and Pakistan is clarity. Having done that hundreds of times at the nets, mentally prepared for certain number of runs in Powerplay or certain runs to get in x number of balls."
As he got ready to congratulate Kishan, Anshumat said something which actually is a reflection of where his friend is in terms of mental space.
"Ishan has stopped attaching hopes with his hard work. Deep within his mind, he is clear about that. When he led Jharkhand, I can vouch, not for once did this thought cross his mind that 'Aise khelunga, aise kaptaani karoonga toh comeback hoga. To play for India, he had to be selfless."
