Ishan Kishan ignored BCCI instructions: Ishan Kishan's absence from Ranji Trophy continues. This wicketkeeper batsman, who plays domestic cricket for Jharkhand, did not take part in the last round of matches that started on Friday. Jharkhand's match with Rajasthan continues in Elite Group A, but Ishaan is not playing this match. Ishaan has been missing from action since the South Africa tour last year. Recently he was found practicing for the IPL with Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya in Baroda.
Image source: BCCI
The team management and BCCI including head coach Rahul Dravid had advised him to play Ranji to make a comeback in the team. Jay Shah had also recently warned the centrally contracted players that his tantrums will not go away. To make a comeback in international cricket, players who are out of the team will have to play domestic cricket. Playing domestic tournaments can also be made mandatory for IPL
Due to Kishan's reluctance to play first-class cricket and focusing only on IPL, BCCI has made a new rule. It has been made mandatory for players to play a limited number of Ranji Trophy matches to qualify for the auction pool of this cash-rich league. Deepak Chahar and Shreyas Iyer are also not playing in the last round of Ranji matches which started at many places in India. However, Iyer has lower back and waist problems.
These three players – Kishan, Chahar and Iyer were specifically asked to play for their respective state teams in first-class cricket. In Kishan's absence, Kumar Kushagra is performing the responsibility of wicketkeeping for Jharkhand against Rajasthan. Jharkhand has 10 points with only one win from six matches so far.
Kishan had decided to return from the South Africa tour citing 'travel fatigue'. However, his decision has not proved correct till now. Since then, he also missed a place in the team for the T20 series against Afghanistan and the Test series against England. In the absence of Rishabh Pant, Ishan was considered India's first choice as wicketkeeper in all three formats.
However, now his training in Baroda with the new captain of his IPL team Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya, is not looking good in the eyes of BCCI. His state team is at the bottom of the Group A table in Ranji and he is not helping his team. There is a consensus within the BCCI that a strict policy needs to be followed so that a group of young players do not make it a habit to just play IPL.
Image Source: BCCI
Jay Shah has also talked about making red ball cricket mandatory at the domestic level for players who have central contracts with BCCI. He said that BCCI will not tolerate any excuse in this matter. Shah said that he is going to give a free hand to the chief selector in this matter and if any player does not accept the decision then he can take the strictest action against him. Apart from this, a decision can also be taken to play three or four matches in Ranji Trophy to play IPL.
Shah said- Everyone was informed about this. I am also going to write letters to all the state cricket associations. If your chief selector, coach and captain want you to play red ball cricket at the domestic level, then you will have to accept this decision. However, this will happen only on the advice of the National Cricket Academy. Suppose, if any player is not able to handle white ball cricket and red ball cricket together, then we will not force anything on him. This will apply only to those who are fit and young. We will not tolerate any kind of excuse. This is for centrally contracted players. Shah said- Everyone will have to play, otherwise the chief selector has given me his advice. I will give him free rein to take his decision openly.
Also Read: How much Indian cricketers earn in domestic cricket?
Give Your Feedback