Over the past week, significant attention has been drawn to the exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the latest BCCI annual contract list. Both players have been prominently featured in BCCI activities over the past year, participating in crucial events and representing the Indian cricket team until recently.
Kishan was part of the South Africa tour squad before taking a break, while Iyer featured in the initial two Tests against England before being dropped. Their absence from domestic cricket has been cited as a contributing factor to their omission from the contract list.
Kishan, during his break, trained with Hardik Pandya but opted out of participating in Ranji Trophy matches for Jharkhand. Similarly, Iyer missed a Ranji Trophy game for Mumbai, citing fitness concerns, although a report from the NCA suggested inconsistencies in his medical status. Additionally, there are claims that Iyer attended a Kolkata Knight Riders pre-IPL camp despite reporting a back problem, which reportedly irked BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
BCCI said: “Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations.”
“The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team.”
The decision regarding the contract list lies with the BCCI selectors, who have deemed these players ineligible due to their absence from domestic cricket and questionable commitment to their respective state teams. As a consequence, Shreyas Iyer, who finds himself out of favor with the national team, is now motivated to showcase his abilities in the upcoming Ranji Trophy semifinal clash against Tamil Nadu, representing Mumbai. His return to domestic action serves as an opportunity for him to assert his skills and remind selectors of his capabilities.
In the context of the upcoming match against Tamil Nadu, Iyer’s presence will be crucial for Mumbai, particularly in facing the challenge posed by Tamil Nadu’s formidable spin bowling attack, which has been a standout feature of their performance this season. As Mumbai vies for victory in the semifinal encounter, Iyer’s performance could potentially serve as a testament to his resilience and talent, potentially reshaping his trajectory within the Indian cricketing landscape.
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