'Our job is to adapt' - Ishan Kishan on format switching ahead of Duleep Trophy final and Afghanistan T20Is

Format Whiplash: Kishan, Varma Eye Duleep Final → T20I Switch

Two of India's most exciting young batsmen—Ishan Kishan (East Zone) and Tilak Varma (South Zone)—will be captaincy duties on the board for the Duleep Trophy final (Chennai, Sep 6-10), and immediately after, a three-day turnaround to India's T20I series vs Afghanistan (Sep 13, Delhi). Red ball to white ball in days. That's the real story here.

"It's our job to adapt"

Kishan didn't mince words on the format-switching grind. Test cricket one minute, hitting from ball one the next, then reverting to a totally different role for your domestic side—Kishan admitted it's not easy, but drew the line at excuses:

> "As professionals it's our job to adapt, we cannot be coming up with excuses... it's our routine for the next few days."

Both guys flagged the same silver lining: two practice days in Delhi before the first T20I should be "more than enough" to reset.

Varma: Rhythm in the chaos

Varma's been through the wringer—List A for India A in Sri Lanka over the last four months, all three formats under his belt. His take? You learn to adjust to conditions, manage your mindset, keep your body loaded with fluids, and lean on back-to-back match experience. "We know how to change our mindsets," per him.

Shami's 100th First-Class Game—the hunger is real

Big emotional angle: Mohammed Shami's featuring for East Zone, and this is his 100th first-class game. Last seen for India at the 2025 Champions Trophy, Shami's not Test-fit right now but is absolutely thriving in the domestic circuit. Kishan, who's judging "hunger" as a career right now, called it:

> "He wants to do that comeback, he wants to be part of the Indian squad again... he's trying to come to me, give me options."

Age's "just a number," per Kishan—Shami's intensity and energy are a different breed this season.

Bottom line: Two emerging captains, one red-ball final, one white-ball series, three days in between. Adaptability is the theme. And a veteran like Shami reminding everyone why domestic cricket still matters.

Source: Crictracker