India’s cricketing sensation Ishan Kishan has been thrust into the limelight lately due to his decision to opt out of the Ranji Trophy in favour of personal training sessions, gearing up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This move comes amidst his absence from the Indian squad since withdrawing from the South Africa tour due to mental fatigue, despite encouragement from head coach Rahul Dravid and other BCCI officials to resume cricketing activities.
Despite directives from the BCCI management to participate in Jharkhand’s final Ranji Trophy match against Rajasthan, Ishan chose to abstain, mirroring the decision of fellow cricketer Deepak Chahar, who has also been on hiatus from the sport. Recent reports have surfaced indicating Ishan’s training sessions alongside Hardik and Krunal Pandya at the Reliance Stadium, prompting dissatisfaction within the BCCI ranks, urging him to return to domestic cricket and represent Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy.
However, as Jharkhand unveiled their lineup for the match against Rajasthan, Ishan’s absence was conspicuous. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has explicitly stated the board’s stance against such behaviour, emphasizing the obligation of young players to engage in red-ball cricket for their state teams, especially when not injured.
Jay Shah said: “They have been informed on the phone already and I’m going to write letters as well that if your chairman of selectors, your coach and your captain are asking for it then you will have to play red-ball cricket.”
“(It applies to) whoever is fit and young – we are not going to tolerate any other tantrums. This message is for all centrally contracted players. Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his own calls freely.”
Shreyas Iyer, another prominent player, found himself excluded from the Mumbai XI, raising questions about his availability or potential injury status for the Ranji Trophy team. Notably, Ishan, Chahar, and Iyer were specifically instructed to prioritize playing for their respective state teams in first-class cricket.
With Ishan’s absence, Kumar Kushagra has shouldered the wicket-keeping responsibilities for Jharkhand, who are grappling with just one victory and 10 points from six matches in the tournament so far. As they face Rajasthan in their final round at home, the ramifications of Ishan’s repeated no-shows resonate within the Indian cricketing hierarchy.
Criticism mounts against Ishan as he continues to skip matches following his return from the South Africa tour, citing “travel fatigue,” especially glaring as he undergoes training sessions with Hardik Pandya while his state team struggles in the Ranji Trophy.
There is a growing consensus within the cricketing circles that stringent policies must be enforced to prevent young players from falling into the cycle of prioritizing IPL engagements over domestic cricket, a trend that threatens to become entrenched within the cricketing culture.
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