Ishan Kishan’s reported refusal of a mid-series Test call-up and his focus on the IPL raised questions about his commitment to red-ball cricket.
Ishan Kishan has been in the talks lately because of his unprofessional stand as an Indian batter, as he decided to opt out of the five-match series against England. The 25-year-old also kept himself out of the Ranji Season, upsetting BCCI and several cricket experts.
Previously, Rahul Dravid opined that Kishan stayed out of the series due to his lack of recent first-class experience. However, new reports suggest that the 25-year-old batsman might have actively declined the call-up. Instead, he was spotted training with Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya in Baroda.
According to reports from ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI called Kishan mid-series, following KS Bharat’s struggles with the bat, and offered him a chance to join the squad. However, Kishan reportedly declined the call-up, stating he wasn’t ready for Test cricket. It led the selection committee to hand over the test debut cap to Dhruv Jurel.
Subsequently, the wicketkeeper-batsman was terminated from his annual contract by BCCI, with Sourav Ganguly and others questioning Ishan’s absence. BCCI secretary Jay Shah also encouraged the players to focus on red-ball cricket, but Kishan did not join the test squad, disregarding this advice.
It has led the BCCI to remind the players to respect all formats of cricket, as mentioned in the annual contract announcement, “The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team.”
Dismissed from the central contract, Ishan Kishan faces an uphill battle for a national team comeback. It is now up to his performance in the upcoming IPL season that could potentially pave the way for a return to the team.
Last Updated on March 2, 2024
