Duleep Trophy second round: BCCI dodges explanation on Ishan Kishan’s ‘strange inclusion’ in India C team

Jharkhand keeper-batter Ishan Kishan’s strange inclusion in the India C Duleep Trophy second-round playing XI on Thursday (Sep 12) puzzled cricket fans and the internet. Days after the BCCI released an official statement informing everyone of Kishan’s groin injury he suffered during the Buchi Babu Tournament, the out-of-favour India batter was named in the playing XI for India C against India B at Rural Development Trust Stadium B in Anantapur. The BCCI dodged an explanation on the same.

Kishan was named in the India D squad for the Duleep Trophy first round; however, following his injury, he got ruled out, with the BCCI naming Sanju Samson as his replacement.

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Expected to stay on the sidelines, recovering from an injury he suffered during his first red-ball domestic tournament since his suspension announcement, Ishan’s inclusion raised eyebrows, with fans taking to social media seeking an official statement.

India C - Playing XI #IndBvIndC #DuleepTrophy pic.twitter.com/tfo3irtfzG — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 12, 2024

What further led to confusion was when the BCCI announced in its media release that no changes were made to the India C squad.

Kishan’s fallout with BCCI

Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were part of Team India’s final 15 for the home World Cup last year, with both getting their chances in the XI in the showpiece event. Though Kishan got limited outings to impress the selectors and press his case for a permanent top-order spot, Iyer’s performance spoke for him.

However, following the heartbreak against Australia in the finale, Kishan and Iyer were named on the white-ball squads for the upcoming South Africa tour. Mid-way into the series, Kishan asked the board to send him home, citing personal issues.

Soon after, the board urged the centrally-contracted players, not picked for any India series, to make them available for the Ranji Trophy group and knockout matches. Both Iyer, who was out with a persistent back injury, and Kishan didn’t abide by the BCCI orders, leading to the board scrapping their names from the central contract for the upcoming season.

Both were overlooked for the T20 World Cup in the Americas, which India won, but the BCCI picked Iyer for the Sri Lanka ODIs later in July. Even at that time, there were no signs of Ishan Kishan making his India comeback.

As things stand, the BCCI is yet to include both in the central contract lists, with their India future hanging in limbo.

Meanwhile, Ishan completed a hundred for India C.

(With inputs from agencies)