Few cricketers have packed as many headlines into their mid-20s as Ishan Kishan. From captaining India’s Under-19 side to smashing a double-century in ODIs, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter has become a fixture both in the IPL and on social media.
Full name: Ishan Kishan ·
Date of birth: 18 July 1998 ·
Role: Wicketkeeper-batter (left-handed opener) ·
IPL team (2025): Sunrisers Hyderabad ·
IPL career earnings (approx.): ₹56 crore ·
Instagram followers: 11 million
Quick snapshot
- Born 18 July 1998 in Patna, Bihar (ESPNcricinfo)
- Girlfriend: Reportedly Aditi Hundia
- Caste: not publicly confirmed (ESPNcricinfo)
- IPL earnings: approx ₹56 crore across seasons (Sunday Guardian Live)
- BCCI central contract and match fees (Sunday Guardian Live)
- Endorsement deals with multiple brands (Sunday Guardian Live)
- Not in Indian Test squad currently (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
- Active in IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Active on social media (11M Instagram followers) (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
| Full name | Ishan Kishan |
| Date of birth | 18 July 1998 |
| Age | 26 (as of August 2024) |
| Height | Approx. 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Batting style | Left-handed |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| IPL team (2025) | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Career IPL runs (as of 2024) | ~3,000 runs |
| Highest IPL score | 99* |
| India debut (ODI) | 2021 vs Sri Lanka |
| India debut (T20I) | 2021 vs England |
| Estimated net worth | ₹20–25 crore |
Who is Ishan Kishan’s girlfriend?
Multiple Indian media outlets have linked Ishan Kishan to Aditi Hundia, a model and former Miss India finalist. The two were spotted together after an India T20I victory in early 2022, and Kishan’s grandfather reportedly acknowledged Hundia as his granddaughter-in-law in an interview with News18 Hindi. However, neither Kishan nor Hundia has made a public confirmation.
The strongest evidence of a relationship comes from family sources and paparazzi photos, not from the couple themselves. For now, the relationship status remains a matter of press speculation.
Is Aditi Hundia Bihari?
Aditi Hundia was born and raised in Jaipur, Rajasthan, but her family roots are reportedly in Bihar. A Zee News Hindi report describes her as belonging to a Bihari family, though she herself grew up in Jaipur. No official biographical statement confirms this.
- Birthplace: Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Ancestral origin: reportedly Bihar
The pattern: What little is known about Aditi Hundia comes from media profiles, not from her own public statements. Caste and regional identity remain reported, not confirmed.
Who is Aditi Hundia?
Aditi Hundia is a model and former beauty pageant contestant. She was a finalist in Femina Miss India 2017 and later won the Miss Supranational India title. According to Oneindia Hindi, she works in music videos, advertising campaigns, and as a social media influencer. Her Instagram following exceeds 270,000, per News18.
Her estimated net worth has been placed between ₹16 crore and ₹25 crore by various outlets, but these figures are not independently verified.
Which caste is Ishan Kishan?
Ishan Kishan has never publicly stated his caste. Online speculation — often linking him to the Rajput or Bhumihar communities — is common on social media but unsupported by any credible statement from the player or his family. The Cricbites profile notes that his caste details are not available.
The implication: In Indian cricket discourse, a player’s caste is sometimes used as a socio-political marker. Without official confirmation, any assignment remains rumour.
Absence of a public statement does not mean absence of caste identity — but it does mean that reliable sources cannot report it as fact.
Why is Ishan Kishan not playing for India?
Kishan was a regular in India’s limited-overs sides through 2022 and 2023. However, in early 2024 he requested a break from red-ball cricket, citing mental fatigue. The BCCI granted the break, but when selectors announced the Test squad for the home series against England, Kishan’s name was omitted. According to a BCCI official, the decision was purely based on his unavailability for the longer format.
- Kishan has not been dropped or banned
- He remains available for white-ball formats
- His last India appearance was in November 2023 (T20I vs Australia)
Was Ishan Kishan banned for 2 years?
No. Despite social media rumours, there is no record of a ban. The confusion likely stems from his absence from Test cricket after the break. CricToday states clearly that he was never banned; he simply chose to focus on white-ball formats. The BCCI continues to offer him a central contract.
“Ishan is a phenomenal talent. His break was his personal call, and the team management respected it.”
— BCCI source (via ESPNcricinfo)
How rich is Ishan Kishan?
Estimates of Ishan Kishan’s net worth vary significantly. A 2023 report from Aaj Tak pegged it at around ₹45 crore. More recent 2026 estimates range from ₹63 crore (Republic Bharat) to over ₹75 crore (News24). These numbers are compiled from media estimates, not from audited sources.
The disagreement across publications suggests that the true figure is difficult to verify. What is clearer is his IPL earnings.
How did Ishan Kishan get so rich?
His primary income source is the IPL. Since his debut with Gujarat Lions in 2016, he has played for Mumbai Indians and now Sunrisers Hyderabad. His total IPL salary across all seasons is approximately ₹56 crore, as reported by Sunday Guardian Live. Additionally, BCCI central contracts and match fees add an estimated ₹7-10 crore annually. Endorsements — including deals with sports brands and consumer goods — supplement this income.
The pattern: IPL contracts form the backbone of Kishan’s wealth, with central contracts and endorsements adding significant but lesser amounts.
| Source | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| IPL earnings (career) | ₹56 crore |
| BCCI central contract (annual) | ₹5-7 crore |
| Match fees (per international game) | ₹15 lakh (Test), ₹6 lakh (ODI), ₹3 lakh (T20I) |
| Endorsements (annual) | ₹3-5 crore (estimated) |
Did Ishan Kishan make ₹56 crore in IPL earnings?
Yes, that figure appears in multiple media reports and is consistent with known auction prices. Kishan was retained by Mumbai Indians for ₹15.25 crore in 2022 and then bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹11.25 crore in the 2025 mega auction (IPL official profile). Over his career, the sum of his salaries approximates ₹56 crore.
High IPL earnings come with intense public scrutiny. Kishan’s every move — from relationship rumours to break requests — is amplified in a way that lower-earning players rarely experience.
Who is better, Gill or Ishan Kishan?
Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan are both young Indian batters, but their roles and records differ sharply. Gill is a specialist top-order batsman with a Test average above 35; Kishan is a wicketkeeper-batter with a white-ball focus. Below is a direct comparison.
The numbers highlight a clear divergence in skills and format specialisation between the two players.
| Aspect | Shubman Gill | Ishan Kishan |
|---|---|---|
| Batting position | Top order (Tests, ODIs) | Opening (T20s, ODIs) |
| Primary role | Specialist batsman | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Test average | 35.59 (as of 2024) | Not played enough Tests |
| ODI average | 43.50 | 42.00 |
| IPL runs (career) | ~3,200 | ~3,000 |
| IPL strike rate | 135.2 | 145.8 |
| International centuries | 2 (all formats) | 1 (ODI 210 vs Bangladesh) |
Gill has established himself in all three formats, while Kishan is still largely a white-ball specialist. The comparison is not entirely fair — they are different types of players.
What is Shubman Gill’s religion?
Shubman Gill’s religion is publicly known as Sikhism. He often speaks about his Punjabi Sikh heritage. This is well documented in his BCCI profile and media interviews.
The contrast with Kishan is that Kishan’s religious or caste identity remains private, whereas Gill has been open about his background.
“Both players represent the future of Indian batting, but their career paths are diverging. Gill is the long-term Test prospect; Kishan is the explosive limited-overs weapon.”
Timeline
- July 1998 — Born in Patna, Bihar (ESPNcricinfo)
- 2016 — Captained India U-19 at ICC U-19 World Cup
- 2016 — IPL debut for Gujarat Lions
- 2018 — Moved to Mumbai Indians in IPL auction
- 2021 — India debut in T20I vs England
- 2021 — ODI debut vs Sri Lanka
- 2022 — Maiden ODI century (210 vs Bangladesh)
- 2024 — Joined Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL mega auction
- 2024 — Requested break from red-ball cricket; not selected for Test series
Confirmed facts vs What’s unclear
| Confirmed facts | What’s unclear |
|---|---|
| Birth date: 18 July 1998 | Exact caste (not publicly confirmed) |
| Girlfriend: Aditi Hundia (reported by multiple media) | Reason for not playing for India beyond the official break statement |
| IPL earnings: ₹56 crore across seasons | Exact net worth (estimates range ₹20-75 crore) |
| Not selected for India Test squad after requesting break | Whether he will return to red-ball cricket |
Quotes about Ishan Kishan
“Ishan has the ability to win matches on his own. We are backing him to play his natural game.”
— BCCI selection committee member (via Cricbuzz)
“The break was necessary for my mental health. Cricket is my life, but sometimes you need to step back.”
— Ishan Kishan (Instagram post, paraphrased by multiple outlets)
“Aditi and Ishan are a lovely couple. The family is happy.”
Ishan Kishan’s journey from a Patna schoolboy to an IPL star earning crores is a modern Indian cricket story. The numbers say one thing: a player with enormous talent and commercial value. The unresolved questions — about his relationship, his caste, his Test future — show how public interest stretches far beyond statistics. For the BCCI, the choice is clear: keep investing in a match-winner who commands 11 million followers, or risk losing him to the chaos of speculation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ishan Kishan married?
No, Ishan Kishan is not married. He is reportedly in a relationship with Aditi Hundia, but no marriage has been announced.
What is Ishan Kishan’s height?
Approximately 5 ft 8 in (173 cm).
What is Ishan Kishan’s highest score in IPL?
99 not out, scored for Mumbai Indians in 2023.
Which IPL team does Ishan Kishan play for?
As of the 2025 season, he plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
How many runs has Ishan Kishan scored in IPL?
Approximately 3,000 runs across his IPL career (as of 2024).
Has Ishan Kishan scored a century in international cricket?
Yes, he scored 210 against Bangladesh in an ODI in 2022.
What is Ishan Kishan’s jersey number?
He wears number 32 for India and in the IPL.
Freddie Clarke is Senior Reporter at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing, language, publishing, books, digital culture and entertainment stories for UK audiences.