Ishan Kishan is known as “Pocket Dynamo’ today, but little is known about his childhood story of a brother’s sacrifice, a father’s relentless support, and a coach who said, “aapke ladke ka cricket band mat karna” |
Ishan Kishan is popularly known as ‘Pocket Dynamo’, but before he achieved this stage of success, his story also had a starting point, just like every other cricketer.But for Ishan, it wasn’t a stadium or a selection trial; it was a modest home in Rajendra Nagar, Patna who was simply a mischievous, restless kid who couldn’t sit still in a classroom but came alive on a cricket field. What turned that raw energy into a genuine cricketing career wasn’t talent alone. It was a family that made quiet, difficult choices on his behalf too.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:22
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Ishan’s father chose to believe in his mischievous son
Ishan’s father, Pranav Kumar Pandey, worked as a small-scale builder and was in no position to fund two professional cricket careers for his sons. According to a report by SportsRush, Pranav had made it clear early on that the family’s limited resources meant only one son could seriously pursue the sport. It was a practical, quite painful call for a father to make, but it also meant that once he committed to backing Ishan, he stayed firmly behind him, even when the road ahead was uncertain.
Kishan’s elder brother chose to sacrifice his career for his younger brother
Ishan’s elder brother, Raj Kishan, was a serious, talented cricketer in his own right, but according to Cricket Country, Raj always believed Ishan had the bigger talent between the two of them. When their father decided that only one son could pursue cricket professionally, Raj chose to step back. He went on to become a doctor, while Ishan continued playing. Raj’s decision to give up his own ambitions played a pivotal role in shaping Ishan’s journey to success.Furthermore, Ishan’s elder brother Raj shared in an interview with India Today, “I played cricket till the 10th standard. We are a middle-class family and it was decided that only one of us can look for a career in cricket. Ishan did not at all like studying, so one of us had to study. Our grandmother is a doctor and so someone from the family had to opt for a career in the medical field”.
The coach who spotted something special
Uttam Mazumdar, Ishan’s childhood coach in Patna, first noticed him as a young boy tagging along to his brother’s cricket sessions. According to an account carried by Mumbai Indians, after watching Ishan play just a few shots, Mazumdar was convinced enough to tell his father, “Kuch bhi karna, aapke ladke ka cricket band mat karna” (do whatever it takes, but don’t stop your son’s cricket). Mazumdar later put him through rigorous back-foot batting drills, a foundation Ishan still relies on today.
Leaving Bihar for a bigger dream
By 2014, Bihar’s cricket association was locked in a dispute with the BCCI, leaving young players with almost nowhere to go. On the advice of his coach and senior players, Ishan’s family made the tough call to move him to Jharkhand at just 15. It paid off, with a debut innings of 60 runs in his first-class match against Odisha.Ishan Kishan’s rise wasn’t built on talent in isolation. It was built on a father’s belief, a brother’s quiet sacrifice, and a coach who refused to let that talent go to waste.
