Ambati Rayudu: Moving Away from Mumbai Indians Has Elevated Ishan Kishan’s Game
A New Chapter for Ishan Kishan
The landscape of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is often defined by the movement of players, but few transitions have been as scrutinized or as rewarding as that of Ishan Kishan. After a seven-year tenure with the Mumbai Indians (MI), a franchise known for housing international superstars, Kishan made the move to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) following the 2025 auction. According to former cricketer Ambati Rayudu, this change in scenery has been the catalyst for Kishan’s evolution into the formidable batsman he is today.
The Challenge of Living in the Shadow of Stars
Ambati Rayudu, who shared a long history with the Mumbai Indians himself, appearing for the franchise from 2009 to 2017, offers a unique perspective on the pressure young players face within that ecosystem. While Rayudu admits that he personally remained indifferent to the allure of stardom during his tenure, he acknowledges that the dynamic is vastly different for a player like Ishan Kishan.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo Time Out, Rayudu explained, “Growing up in a franchise like Mumbai, he wants to be a superstar—he is a superstar in his own right now—but back then to compete against all the stars around him would have been very, very tough.”
Rayudu notes that established veterans have a natural instinct for managing the mental demands of the game, knowing exactly when to focus and when to relax. In contrast, younger players often struggle with the “always-on” nature of high-profile cricket. “A lot of these young boys don’t know how to switch off and how to switch on,” Rayudu observed. “That’s a big challenge, and I’m sure he has learnt, and he has learnt it the hard way.”
Numbers Reflecting Maturity
The statistics from the 2026 IPL season provide clear evidence of this newfound maturity. Kishan is currently sitting in fifth place on the Orange Cap list, a testament to his consistency. Across 14 games, he has amassed 569 runs at an impressive average of 40.64 and a striking strike rate of 178.36.
A standout moment in his current campaign was his explosive 79 off just 46 deliveries against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This performance, which earned him the Player-of-the-Match award, marked his sixth 50-plus score of the season. To put this in perspective, prior to this year, Kishan had never managed more than three such scores in a single IPL season, signaling a significant leap in his ability to convert starts into substantial innings.
Refining the Tactical Approach
Beyond the numbers, the quality of Kishan’s batting has undergone a noticeable transformation. Rayudu highlighted a stark improvement in the batsman’s decision-making process. “His shot selection has improved big time,” Rayudu stated. “In his initial years, we have seen him make some wrong decisions in terms of shot selection. But here we saw him making the right call most of the time.”
Rayudu also points to Kishan’s experience in leadership roles as a turning point in his career development. The responsibility of captaining Jharkhand appears to have provided him with a broader understanding of the game. “I think his captaincy for Jharkhand made him realise a lot of things about his own game as well,” Rayudu added. “Sometimes when you get captaincy, people transform into better batsmen, and he is one of them who has massively improved in terms of clarity.”
Looking Ahead
The journey of Ishan Kishan serves as a compelling narrative about the importance of environment and responsibility in sports. By stepping out of the shadow of a legendary franchise and taking on new challenges—both as a player for Sunrisers Hyderabad and as a leader for his domestic side—Kishan has unlocked a level of performance that many believed he was capable of, but few expected to see realized so completely. As the tournament progresses, fans will be eager to see if this trajectory of growth continues to propel him toward even greater individual and team success.
