In December 2023, Ishan Kishan made headlines by withdrawing himself from the India squad for the Test series against South Africa, citing mental fatigue as the primary reason for his break from the sport. However, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has raised eyebrows over Kishan’s decision, questioning the validity of mental fatigue at such an early stage in the young cricketer’s career.
Expressing his disbelief, Akmal emphasized that veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah also navigate through the challenges of mental fatigue while actively participating in various formats, including Test matches and high-pressure tournaments like the IPL. Akmal shared his thoughts on the matter through his YouTube channel, pointing out that it is uncommon for players, especially at the beginning of their careers, to take breaks due to mental fatigue.
India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, shed light on the situation, explaining that Ishan Kishan did not make himself available for selection for the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan and would need to participate in domestic cricket to regain his spot in the national side. Moreover, Kishan was notably absent from India’s squad for the initial two Tests against England, with KS Bharat and young Dhruv Jurel included as the designated wicketkeepers.
Kamran Akmal said: “You are saving yourself for two months of IPL. Playing in the Indian team is a big thing and this excuse is beyond my understanding. I think the selection committee has done a good job by keeping Ishan Kishan away from this team. Let him rest for now and then playing domestic cricket. This should be a message to players that they cannot ask for rest whenever they want due to mental fatigue. This is national duty, you cannot ask for rest just like that.”
Kamran Akmal expressed his bewilderment at Kishan’s choice to take a break so early in his cricketing journey, emphasizing that young players should refrain from making such demands at the initial stages of their careers. The veteran cricketer conveyed his belief that enduring challenges and fatigue are an inherent part of a professional athlete’s journey and expressed his scepticism regarding the legitimacy of Kishan’s decision to step away from the game.
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