Khan says that adapting to formats is fun, and switching from red-ball to white-ball cricket and vice versa is among the most enjoyable things about the game. He spoke during the Duleep Trophy, where players are playing catch-up adjusting to the slower pace of Test cricket after years of limited-overs and one-day dominance.
For Kishan, the shift between formats isn’t just a matter of changing the colour of the ball or how long a match lasts. Every format requires a different state of mind and the ability to toggle in between has now become an essential trait among today’s cricketers. T20 and ODI cricket has an aggressive nature that requires intent and quick decision-making, but first-class cricket tests a batter’s concentration, ability to unify technical style with outcomes, and willingness to face long periods at the crease.
The southpaw said this variety is what makes the game interesting. The player might be at a stage of wanting to score quickly in one format, but then within a few hours may need to rein their game in and play under the structure of the match. Kishan does not view this adjustment as a hard load, yet instead an exciting challenge.
His remarks follow a time when players are often shifting from domestic tournaments to franchise leagues – like the Indian Premier League (IPL)-to international commitments. Thanks to full schedules in several formats, the flexibility of cricketers is becoming increasingly significant. While players need to gauge the demands of each competition and adapt their game.
Kishan himself has played across formats already, understanding the skills that modern day cricket demands. Although well known for his aggressive batting approach in white-ball cricket, he has had more chances to work on different parts of his game playing longer-format matches.
Kishan has one more red-ball chance in the Duleep Trophy to show that he can bridge the gap he needs to with his game to make sure it translates into long-format success, and this is a good start. Domestic performances can play another key bearing on someone who is trying to freshen up their game whether they want to continue or are looking at playing at alternative levels.
Kishan, instead of treating the transition from T20 cricket to Test as something that needs to be confronted, seems rather sanguine about it being part and parcel of professionalism. His view reflects the increasingly modern game of cricket, where being adaptable is as much a skill as anything. The ability to reset, adapt and execute in contrasting conditions continues to be a crucial piece of the puzzle with players still traversing from one format to another.
Dalvi is a passionate cricket writer, who loves covering the latest cricket updates, match insights, and player performances. With a strong interest in the game, Dalvi delivers accurate, engaging, and easy-to-understand content for cricket fans worldwide. As an author at CricWing, Dalvi focuses on providing timely news, match analysis, and trending cricket stories, helping readers stay connected with every moment of the game.
