Sai Kishore, who will be representing Team B in the Duleep Trophy, will be competing alongside seasoned spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Rahul Chahar.In an interview with The New Indian Express, the Tamil Nadu spinner expressed his confidence and readiness to make his mark in the longest format of the game.
“I feel so confident because I have never trained in the block I have now. Maybe before getting into the IPL, I would have trained like this. Waking up at 4 am, training and then, bowling. I haven’t put in as many hours as I have this pre-season in the past four-five years,” Kishore revealed.
His confidence has been bolstered by a rigorous pre-season training regimen that has prepared him for the challenges of red-ball cricket. Despite a freak golf injury during the IPL 2024 season, which briefly disrupted his momentum, Kishore made a strong return, featuring as a batter in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) before resuming full bowling duties in the ongoing Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament.
“I feel I am one of the best spinners in the country. Put me in a Test match, I am ready. So, I am not worried too much,” he asserted. Kishore also spoke about the opportunity to play alongside Ravindra Jadeja in the Duleep Trophy, noting, “Jadeja is there, I have never played alongside him. I have been with him in CSK, but never played together in red-ball format. So, it will be a good learning experience in terms of what he does. In saying that, I feel confident. So, I am ready more than ever.”
With the Duleep Trophy expected to play a significant role in the selection of the Indian Test squad for the Bangladesh series starting on September 19, Sai Kishore’s performances will be closely watched. His declaration of readiness for Test cricket signals his ambition to join the ranks of India’s elite spinners and make a significant impact on the international stage.