It seems like Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and Deepak Chahar decided not to participate in Jharkhand’s last Ranji Trophy match.
It appears that Ishan Kishan chose not to adhere to the instructions given by India head coach Rahul Dravid and BCCI secretary Jay Shah to participate in the Ranji Trophy. Despite the directive to centrally contracted players to make themselves available for domestic red-ball cricket, Kishan opted not to play in Jharkhand’s last Group A fixture against Rajasthan.
Jay Shah made it explicit that the BCCI expects players to prioritize red-ball cricket when requested by the chairman of selectors, coach, and captain.
Reports indicate that the BCCI is considering a requirement for players to participate in the Ranji Trophy to maintain eligibility for the IPL.
Ishan Kishan, who had been seeking breaks since the ODI World Cup last year, was granted permission by the team management before the South Africa Test series. However, reports indicated that head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma were not pleased with the timing of Kishan’s break.
Despite selectors not picking him for the Test series against England, and head coach Dravid emphasizing the need for him to play cricket to be considered for selection, Ishan Kishan seems undeterred. Kumar Kushagra has been handling wicket-keeping duties for Jharkhand in Kishan’s absence.
Jharkhand, with only one win and 10 points from six matches, are facing Rajasthan at home in their final round. Ishan Kishan’s repeated absences from matches, citing “travel fatigue” since returning from the national team’s South Africa tour, have raised concerns among key figures in the Indian cricket establishment.
Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar decide to give Ranji Trophy a miss
Apart from Kishan, other notable players like Deepak Chahar and Shreyas Iyer are also absent from the ongoing final round of matches. Iyer cited issues with his lower back and groin as reasons for his absence.
It seems these players, including Kishan, Chahar, and Iyer, were explicitly instructed to participate in first-class cricket for their respective state teams. Despite this, reports suggest that Kishan was seen training in Baroda with his new Mumbai Indians skipper, Hardik Pandya, while his state team, Jharkhand, struggled in the Ranji Trophy.
There is a general consensus that a strict policy is necessary to prevent young players from getting into the habit of playing only in the IPL.
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