India, Oct. 16 -- Discarded India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan kicked off his Ranji Trophy campaign on a sensational note, as he carved out a knock of 173 runs against Tamil Nadu at the Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science Ground in Coimbatore in Jharkhand's opening game in the 2025/26 season. And despite the star batter falling agonisingly short of a well-deserved double century, the knock was enough to send a reminder to the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee that Ishan was back in the fray for a return to Test cricket, possibly in the upcoming home series against South Africa.

Leading Jharkhand in the season opener, Ishan walked out at 79 for three and then witnessed his side collapse to 157 for six. But Ishan anchored on...