The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has opened up on the omission of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the central contract.&nbsp;Speaking at a press conference on Tursday (May 10) he said the decision to drop the players was not his but of&nbsp;chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

Both Ishan and Shreyas were dropped from the annual contracts of the BCCI before the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) season began for lack of priority towards domestic cricket.&nbsp;The two cricketers also pulled out of international or domestic duties on several occasions&nbsp;which&nbsp;led&nbsp;to them getting dropped from the contract.&nbsp;

<h2>Shah opens the lid on Ishan,&nbsp;Shreyas</h2>

"You can check the constitution. I am just a convener (of the selection meeting),"&nbsp;he said during a media interaction at the BCCI head office.&nbsp;"That decision lies with Ajit Agarkar, even&nbsp;when these two players (Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer) did not play domestic (cricket), the decision to drop them (from the central contracts list) was only his. My role is&nbsp;just&nbsp;to implement. And we have&nbsp;got&nbsp;new players (in place), like Sanju (Samson). Nobody is indispensable,"&nbsp;he added.

Ishan in December chose&nbsp;to pull out of the Test series against South Africa despite being fit as he was reluctant to play second fiddle to KL Rahul in the&nbsp;wicketkeeper’s&nbsp;role. He was later spotted partying in a Dubai hotel during his&nbsp;brother’s&nbsp;birthday despite having sighted medical issues for pulling out of the South Africa tour.&nbsp;

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While Shreyas&nbsp;complained of back strain and chose to stay away from the national team during the England home series. However, according to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) report, he was fit to participate for India and Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy season.&nbsp;

Though&nbsp;Shreyas&nbsp;returned to play for Mumbai in their title-winning run, Ishan opted to stay away from&nbsp;Jharkhand’s&nbsp;Ranji Trophy season and was preparing for the IPL 2024.&nbsp;The situation did not go well with the BCCI and its&nbsp;selectors&nbsp;with both&nbsp;Shreyas and Ishan getting dropped from the annual contract.&nbsp;

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has opened up on the omission of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the central contract. Speaking at a press conference on Tursday (May 10) he said the decision to drop the players was not his but of chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has opened up on the omission of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the central contract. Speaking at a press conference on Tursday (May 10) he said the decision to drop the players was not his but of chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Both Ishan and Shreyas were dropped from the annual contracts of the BCCI before the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) season began for lack of priority towards domestic cricket. The two cricketers also pulled out of international or domestic duties on several occasions which led to them getting dropped from the contract. Shah opens the lid on Ishan, Shreyas "You can check the constitution. I am just a convener (of the selection meeting)," he said during a media interaction at the BCCI head office. "That decision lies with Ajit Agarkar, even when these two players (Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer) did not play domestic (cricket), the decision to drop them (from the central contracts list) was only his. My role is just to implement. And we have got new players (in place), like Sanju (Samson). Nobody is indispensable," he added. Ishan in December chose to pull out of the Test series against South Africa despite being fit as he was reluctant to play second fiddle to KL Rahul in the wicketkeeper’s role. He was later spotted partying in a Dubai hotel during his brother’s birthday despite having sighted medical issues for pulling out of the South Africa tour. ALSO READ | BCCI to release advertisement for new Team India coach as Rahul Dravid's extended tenure nears end While Shreyas complained of back strain and chose to stay away from the national team during the England home series. However, according to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) report, he was fit to participate for India and Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy season. Though Shreyas returned to play for Mumbai in their title-winning run, Ishan opted to stay away from Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy season and was preparing for the IPL 2024. The situation did not go well with the BCCI and its selectors with both Shreyas and Ishan getting dropped from the annual contract.

'Decision lies with Agarkar': Jay Shah on Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan's omission from BCCI contract

It was an evening of mixed fortunes for Mumbai Indians’ batter Ishan Kishan after he was offered a reality-check by Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Mitchell Starc in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) on Friday (May 3). Chasing 170 runs&nbsp;Ishan&nbsp;did make a good start but was quickly brought down to earth&nbsp;having&nbsp;scored a six off Starc’s bowling. His wicket at the Wankhede Stadium saw the crowd go silent as the home side’s desperation for a win continued.&nbsp;

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Starc striking early for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKR</a> ⚡️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MI</a> lose Ishan Kishan &amp; are 25/1! 
 
Follow the Match ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/iWTqcAsT0O">https://t.co/iWTqcAsT0O</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIvKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIvKKR</a> <a href="https://t.co/ukmGSXb84A">pic.twitter.com/ukmGSXb84A</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1786430210948112450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Ishan gets reality-check</h2>

Coming out to bat to chase 170, Ishan took the attack to Starc and hit a six on the leg side on the third ball of the second over.&nbsp;While this made the crowd&nbsp;ecstatic, it was the next delivery that&nbsp;brought everyone back to square one.&nbsp;In desperation for another six, Starc’s delivery caught Ishan by surprise as he failed to judge the flight and&nbsp;was bowled out&nbsp;on 13 off 7. The wicket in the second over was enough for the crowd to go silent&nbsp;with&nbsp;them having little joy throughout the season.&nbsp;

After the wicket, Mumbai never recovered and slumped to their latest defeat in the IPL 2024. Suryakumar&nbsp; Yadav did resist with a 56 off 34&nbsp;balls,&nbsp;but could not avoid his side’s eighth defeat of the season. Tim David scored 24 off 20 but did not get a good helping hand as the hosts suffered their first defeat to KKR on home ground in 12 years. The 24-run win for KKR also helped them&nbsp;stay firm in second place in the IPL 2024 standings.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/t20-world-cup-2024-rovman-powell-to-lead-west-indies-15-man-squad-no-international-return-for-sunil-narine-717804">T20 World Cup 2024: Rovman Powell to lead West Indies' 15-man squad; no international return for Sunil Narine</a>

Mitchell Starc ended with&nbsp;figures of&nbsp;33/4 in 3.5 overs&nbsp;while&nbsp;Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell&nbsp;ended&nbsp;with two wickets each.&nbsp;

KKR are next in action on Sunday (May 5) when they face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)&nbsp;who&nbsp;are also battling hard for a place in the Playoffs. While&nbsp;MI are out of the playoff race as they could only attain a maximum of 12 points, which now mathematically sees their hopes come to an end. They next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium and will play for pride in their remaining three matches.&nbsp;

It was an evening of mixed fortunes for Mumbai Indians’ batter Ishan Kishan after he was offered a reality-check by Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Mitchell Starc in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) on Friday (May 3).

It was an evening of mixed fortunes for Mumbai Indians’ batter Ishan Kishan after he was offered a reality-check by Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Mitchell Starc in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) on Friday (May 3). Chasing 170 runs Ishan did make a good start but was quickly brought down to earth having scored a six off Starc’s bowling. His wicket at the Wankhede Stadium saw the crowd go silent as the home side’s desperation for a win continued. Starc striking early for #KKR ⚡️#MI lose Ishan Kishan & are 25/1! Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/iWTqcAsT0O#TATAIPL | #MIvKKR pic.twitter.com/ukmGSXb84A — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 3, 2024 × Ishan gets reality-check Coming out to bat to chase 170, Ishan took the attack to Starc and hit a six on the leg side on the third ball of the second over. While this made the crowd ecstatic, it was the next delivery that brought everyone back to square one. In desperation for another six, Starc’s delivery caught Ishan by surprise as he failed to judge the flight and was bowled out on 13 off 7. The wicket in the second over was enough for the crowd to go silent with them having little joy throughout the season. After the wicket, Mumbai never recovered and slumped to their latest defeat in the IPL 2024. Suryakumar Yadav did resist with a 56 off 34 balls, but could not avoid his side’s eighth defeat of the season. Tim David scored 24 off 20 but did not get a good helping hand as the hosts suffered their first defeat to KKR on home ground in 12 years. The 24-run win for KKR also helped them stay firm in second place in the IPL 2024 standings. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup 2024: Rovman Powell to lead West Indies' 15-man squad; no international return for Sunil Narine Mitchell Starc ended with figures of 33/4 in 3.5 overs while Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell ended with two wickets each. KKR are next in action on Sunday (May 5) when they face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) who are also battling hard for a place in the Playoffs. While MI are out of the playoff race as they could only attain a maximum of 12 points, which now mathematically sees their hopes come to an end. They next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium and will play for pride in their remaining three matches.

IPL 2024: Mitchell Starc silences Wankhede crowd with inch-perfect delivery to dismiss Ishan Kishan

Mumbai Indians registered a statement win on Thursday (April 11) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they dismantled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by seven wickets. The win was MI’s second&nbsp;on the trot while RCB have now lost five matches in the IPL 2024, the most by any team in the season. Ishan Kishan (69) and Jasprit Bumrah (21/5) were the architects of Mumbai’s win as they&nbsp;put behind the poor start to IPL 2024.

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सूर्या दादा has 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗗 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiMeriJaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiMeriJaan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiIndians?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiIndians</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIvRCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/drwHcA8wWN">pic.twitter.com/drwHcA8wWN</a>
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1778475550144934202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Ishan leads MI to back-to-back wins</h2>

Needing a mammoth 197 runs to win, MI made light work of RCB as Ishan blasted their bowlers all over the park. The MI opener&nbsp;leading from the front&nbsp;smashed 69 off 34 which consisted of 5 sixes and 7 fours&nbsp; He along with Rohit Sharma stitched 101 runs for the opening partnership and had RCB on the back foot. After Ishan’s dismissal, Suryakumar Yadav ran riot with a 52-run innings of just 19 balls and ended RCB’s hopes of any comeback into the contest.

Rohit Sharma (38), Hardik Pandya (unbeaten 21) and Tilak Varma (unbeaten 16) completed the formalities to clinch the contest by seven wickets.

<h2>Bumrah scalps five-for at Wankhede</h2>

Bowling first, MI did not allow RCB to settle as the visitors were 23/2 inside the powerplay with Virat Kohli (3) and Will Jacks (8) departing early. However, skipper Faf du Plessis was at his best and scored 61 off 40 before being scalped by Bumrah. He would later get the better of rest of the tail and complete the five-for at the Wankhede Stadium. Glenn Maxwell’s miserable IPL 2024 continued with another duck for the side.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-set-to-introduce-semi-automated-offside-technology-from-2024-25-season-710222">Premier League set to introduce semi-automated offside technology from 2024-25 season</a>

In total RCB had three ducks in their innings, but it was the rescue act of 38-year-old Dinesh Karthik that helped the visitors reach 196/8. Karthik scored 53 off 23 and scored 5 fours and 4 sixes in his innings to stamp his authority on the contest.

Apart from Bumrah’s five-for there were wickets for Gerald Coetzee, Akash Madhwal and Shreyas Gopal.

MI next take on defending champions and five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL El Clasico on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium. While RCB will face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday in Bengaluru.

Mumbai Indians registered a statement win on Thursday (April 11) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they dismantled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by seven wickets.

Mumbai Indians registered a statement win on Thursday (April 11) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they dismantled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by seven wickets. The win was MI’s second on the trot while RCB have now lost five matches in the IPL 2024, the most by any team in the season. Ishan Kishan (69) and Jasprit Bumrah (21/5) were the architects of Mumbai’s win as they put behind the poor start to IPL 2024. सूर्या दादा has 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗗 🔥#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/drwHcA8wWN — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 11, 2024 × Ishan leads MI to back-to-back wins Needing a mammoth 197 runs to win, MI made light work of RCB as Ishan blasted their bowlers all over the park. The MI opener leading from the front smashed 69 off 34 which consisted of 5 sixes and 7 fours He along with Rohit Sharma stitched 101 runs for the opening partnership and had RCB on the back foot. After Ishan’s dismissal, Suryakumar Yadav ran riot with a 52-run innings of just 19 balls and ended RCB’s hopes of any comeback into the contest. Rohit Sharma (38), Hardik Pandya (unbeaten 21) and Tilak Varma (unbeaten 16) completed the formalities to clinch the contest by seven wickets. Bumrah scalps five-for at Wankhede Bowling first, MI did not allow RCB to settle as the visitors were 23/2 inside the powerplay with Virat Kohli (3) and Will Jacks (8) departing early. However, skipper Faf du Plessis was at his best and scored 61 off 40 before being scalped by Bumrah. He would later get the better of rest of the tail and complete the five-for at the Wankhede Stadium. Glenn Maxwell’s miserable IPL 2024 continued with another duck for the side. ALSO READ | Premier League set to introduce semi-automated offside technology from 2024-25 season In total RCB had three ducks in their innings, but it was the rescue act of 38-year-old Dinesh Karthik that helped the visitors reach 196/8. Karthik scored 53 off 23 and scored 5 fours and 4 sixes in his innings to stamp his authority on the contest. Apart from Bumrah’s five-for there were wickets for Gerald Coetzee, Akash Madhwal and Shreyas Gopal. MI next take on defending champions and five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL El Clasico on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium. While RCB will face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday in Bengaluru.

IPL 2024: Ishan, Bumrah earn statement win for Mumbai Indians at Wankhede as RCB crumble to fifth defeat

Hardik Pandya has suffered enough wrath from fans for his appointment as Mumbai Indians captain in place of Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 season. His IPL teammate Ishan Kishan says it’s about time before he wins over them with his performance. The management’s call to remove Rohit and name Pandya as the new skipper irked the fan base with the crowd booing Hardik at every stadium he plays at.

Even at his home venue – the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the fans continued booing him while he walked out to bat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) the other night. Pandya played a handy cameo coming in at four&nbsp;to win the game for the hosts, their second in five contested matches thus far.

Reflecting on fans turning on Pandya, mainly for how he took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Kishan said having spent a lot of time with Pandya, he must be enjoying this as a challenge, knowing he can turn this around with his performance this season.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-ishan-kishan-opens-up-on-taking-break-from-cricket-and-t20-wc-spot-says-its-not-in-my-hands-710546">IPL 2024: Ishan Kishan opens up on taking ‘break from cricket’ and T20 WC spot, says ‘it’s not in my hands’</a>

“He [Hardik] loves challenges, he has been in this situation before and he is in that situation right now," Kishan said. “He is not someone who will come out and talk about it and say let's stop this or that. I know that he must be enjoying it. I know him personally.&nbsp;

“I have spent a lot of time with him. He is ready for the challenges because you cannot complain to the fans, they will come up with their explanations and their point of view,” Kishan added.

The young left-handed batter said Pandya would take positives out of this situation, and bring in his A-game to get the trust of fans back and accept him as Mumbai Indians’ captain. &nbsp;

<h2>Fans will love, accept Pandya as MI captain</h2>

"Knowing how Hardik Pandya thinks, he is happy with people doing it but I know that in the coming games, he will do it with the bat and people will start loving him [again]. People also recognise your hard work, and what you are going through and still you are doing so well for your team.

"Our fans will be a little harsh on you but at the same time when you do well, or when you show that it is [still] not bothering you and [that] you are in a good headspace, that might change. If not today, tomorrow. If not tomorrow, the day after tomorrow,” Kishan concluded.

Meanwhile, with two successive wins, Mumbai has climbed to the seventh spot on the points table.

They next face Chennai Super Kings in the home game on Sunday (April 14) evening.&nbsp;

Hardik Pandya has suffered enough wrath from fans for his appointment as Mumbai Indians captain in place of Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 season. His IPL teammate Ishan Kishan says it’s about time before he wins over them with his performance.

Hardik Pandya has suffered enough wrath from fans for his appointment as Mumbai Indians captain in place of Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 season. His IPL teammate Ishan Kishan says it’s about time before he wins over them with his performance. The management’s call to remove Rohit and name Pandya as the new skipper irked the fan base with the crowd booing Hardik at every stadium he plays at. Even at his home venue – the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the fans continued booing him while he walked out to bat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) the other night. Pandya played a handy cameo coming in at four to win the game for the hosts, their second in five contested matches thus far. Reflecting on fans turning on Pandya, mainly for how he took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Kishan said having spent a lot of time with Pandya, he must be enjoying this as a challenge, knowing he can turn this around with his performance this season. ALSO READ: IPL 2024: Ishan Kishan opens up on taking ‘break from cricket’ and T20 WC spot, says ‘it’s not in my hands’ “He [Hardik] loves challenges, he has been in this situation before and he is in that situation right now," Kishan said. “He is not someone who will come out and talk about it and say let's stop this or that. I know that he must be enjoying it. I know him personally. “I have spent a lot of time with him. He is ready for the challenges because you cannot complain to the fans, they will come up with their explanations and their point of view,” Kishan added. The young left-handed batter said Pandya would take positives out of this situation, and bring in his A-game to get the trust of fans back and accept him as Mumbai Indians’ captain. Fans will love, accept Pandya as MI captain "Knowing how Hardik Pandya thinks, he is happy with people doing it but I know that in the coming games, he will do it with the bat and people will start loving him [again]. People also recognise your hard work, and what you are going through and still you are doing so well for your team. "Our fans will be a little harsh on you but at the same time when you do well, or when you show that it is [still] not bothering you and [that] you are in a good headspace, that might change. If not today, tomorrow. If not tomorrow, the day after tomorrow,” Kishan concluded. Meanwhile, with two successive wins, Mumbai has climbed to the seventh spot on the points table. They next face Chennai Super Kings in the home game on Sunday (April 14) evening.

Underfire MI captain Hardik Pandya will win over the fans with his performance, admits IPL teammate

India and Mumbai Indians keeper-batter Ishan Kishan opened up on taking a break from cricket and his thoughts behind bagging the spot in the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup in June. Kishan, who slammed a brilliant 69 off 39 balls against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024 the other night, said many things are not in his hands and that he plans to enjoy his cricket.

During the South Africa tour late last year, Ishan asked BCCI not to consider him for selection as he decided to take a break from the game for personal reasons. The left-handed batter remained away from the game until March, missing the Afghanistan T20Is and the home Test series against England. He, however, returned to play the DY Patil Cup before joining Mumbai Indians camp for IPL 2024.

This season, Ishan is Mumbai’s top run-getter thus far, with 161 runs from five games at 182.95.&nbsp;

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Ishan Kishan &amp; Rohit Sharma are on the charge 💥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MI</a> off to a strong start, 72/0 in the Powerplay 🙌 
 
Watch the match LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StarSportsIndia</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JioCinema</a> 💻📱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIvRCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/0d1ZtS49Ht">pic.twitter.com/0d1ZtS49Ht</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1778466505723629899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/forget-retirement-rohit-sharma-outlines-plan-to-play-for-few-more-years-710513">Forget retirement, Rohit Sharma outlines plan to play for few more years</a>

Meanwhile, with the squad selection date for the 2024 T20 World Cup around the corner, Ishan is not worried about his selection, saying he is happy to take one game at a time, and is unwilling to overstep in a two-month tournament like the IPL.

"About the World Cup, it is not in my hands and I am taking things very easy right now," Ishan said. "You have to take one match at a time. One needs to understand that a lot is not in the hands of the players.

"It [the IPL] is a long big tournament and you do not want to overstep. I am just taking one game at a time and [my motto is] however I can help the team, let's do it,” the youngster added.

<h2>Reason behind taking break from cricket</h2>

Amid several speculations as to why he took a break from cricket at a time when Indian cricket was getting over the 2023 World Cup final loss, Ishan said,&nbsp;"I was practising [during the break]. When you take a break, people gossip about it a lot, they say a lot of things on social media. But I feel it's important to understand not everything is in players' hands. We can only make the best use of the break. This is what adopting a good mindset is,"

While Pant was away at that time recovering (from the injuries he suffered in a road accident), India picked Jitesh Sharma as keeper for Afghanistan T20Is. In the Test series against England, the BCCI selectors picked KS Bharat for the first two Tests before naming Dhruv Jurel as his replacement for the remaining three games.

However, considering the 20-team-tournament in the Caribbean and the USA, the selectors will have plenty of options in the keeper’s category to choose from, with Sanju Samson and KL Rahul emerging as top contenders for the spot in the final 15.&nbsp;

India and Mumbai Indians keeper-batter Ishan Kishan opened up on taking a break from cricket and his thoughts behind bagging the spot in the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.

India and Mumbai Indians keeper-batter Ishan Kishan opened up on taking a break from cricket and his thoughts behind bagging the spot in the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup in June. Kishan, who slammed a brilliant 69 off 39 balls against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024 the other night, said many things are not in his hands and that he plans to enjoy his cricket. During the South Africa tour late last year, Ishan asked BCCI not to consider him for selection as he decided to take a break from the game for personal reasons. The left-handed batter remained away from the game until March, missing the Afghanistan T20Is and the home Test series against England. He, however, returned to play the DY Patil Cup before joining Mumbai Indians camp for IPL 2024. This season, Ishan is Mumbai’s top run-getter thus far, with 161 runs from five games at 182.95. Ishan Kishan & Rohit Sharma are on the charge 💥#MI off to a strong start, 72/0 in the Powerplay 🙌 Watch the match LIVE on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/0d1ZtS49Ht — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2024 × ALSO READ: Forget retirement, Rohit Sharma outlines plan to play for few more years Meanwhile, with the squad selection date for the 2024 T20 World Cup around the corner, Ishan is not worried about his selection, saying he is happy to take one game at a time, and is unwilling to overstep in a two-month tournament like the IPL. "About the World Cup, it is not in my hands and I am taking things very easy right now," Ishan said. "You have to take one match at a time. One needs to understand that a lot is not in the hands of the players. "It [the IPL] is a long big tournament and you do not want to overstep. I am just taking one game at a time and [my motto is] however I can help the team, let's do it,” the youngster added. Reason behind taking break from cricket Amid several speculations as to why he took a break from cricket at a time when Indian cricket was getting over the 2023 World Cup final loss, Ishan said, "I was practising [during the break]. When you take a break, people gossip about it a lot, they say a lot of things on social media. But I feel it's important to understand not everything is in players' hands. We can only make the best use of the break. This is what adopting a good mindset is," While Pant was away at that time recovering (from the injuries he suffered in a road accident), India picked Jitesh Sharma as keeper for Afghanistan T20Is. In the Test series against England, the BCCI selectors picked KS Bharat for the first two Tests before naming Dhruv Jurel as his replacement for the remaining three games. However, considering the 20-team-tournament in the Caribbean and the USA, the selectors will have plenty of options in the keeper’s category to choose from, with Sanju Samson and KL Rahul emerging as top contenders for the spot in the final 15.

IPL 2024: Ishan Kishan opens up on taking ‘break from cricket’ and T20 WC spot, says ‘it’s not in my hands’

Former India seamer Praveen Kumar has come down hard on the Mumbai Indians captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya for skipping domestic matches and choosing IPL over playing for his state team in the Ranji Trophy.&nbsp;

After what happened with the young duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who got released from BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season for not abiding by the board’s instructions, questions were raised about Pandya’s name on the list (in A category), despite him not featuring for India across formats for some time now.

With the board urging all centrally-contracted players to appear for their state teams in all domestic competitions, including Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy, while being away from international commitments, Pandya hasn’t featured in one.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/impossible-to-be-without-virat-kohli-at-t20-world-cup-2024-kris-srikkanth-slams-rumour-mongers-700421">Impossible to be without Virat Kohli at T20 World Cup 2024: Kris Srikkanth slams rumour-mongers</a>

While he remains the top guy in the white-ball format, primarily in the T20Is (for his exploits), Pandya hasn’t turned up for the Test side since last playing in 2018.

Irked over BCCI’s double standards regarding certain players, Praveen, known for being blunt with his expressions, asked why rules differ for Hardik while others suffer a contrasting fate for similar fouls.

“Has Hardik Pandya descended from the moon? He has to play too. Why are there different rules for him? The BCCI should threaten him. Why would you play just the domestic T20 tournament (DY Patil)? Play all three formats. Or have you played 60-70 Test matches that you will just play T20? The country needs you," Kumar said on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel.

<h2>Praveen seeks clarity on Pandya as Test cricketer</h2>

After dodging queries around his role as a Test cricketer, Pandya, around last year’s World Test Championship (in June), reverted to one of the questions, saying, ‘I haven't even done 10 per cent to reach there.’&nbsp;

Questioning his role as a Test cricketer, Praveen asked if Pandya had given it in writing to the board that he would remain unavailable for selection in the longer format, and if not then he must clear his stance on picking format per his liking.

"Give it in writing that I am not available for Tests. Neither are you committing from it nor are you withdrawing entirely. The BCCI should also be questioned.&nbsp;

"You can't twist and mould rules for one player. But I feel that there must have been a discussion. If they think Hardik is an asset in T20 and we don't want his fitness to be affected. Then it's fine. Either that or a player should be informed that he is only going to be considered for T20s and ODIs but not for Tests. That way, a player is satisfied knowing about his future," Praveen added.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting March 22 in Chennai. Mumbai will face Gujarat on Sunday (March 24) in an away clash in their opener.&nbsp;

Former India seamer Praveen Kumar has come down hard on the Mumbai Indians captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya for skipping domestic matches and choosing IPL over playing for his state team in the Ranji Trophy.

Former India seamer Praveen Kumar has come down hard on the Mumbai Indians captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya for skipping domestic matches and choosing IPL over playing for his state team in the Ranji Trophy. After what happened with the young duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who got released from BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season for not abiding by the board’s instructions, questions were raised about Pandya’s name on the list (in A category), despite him not featuring for India across formats for some time now. With the board urging all centrally-contracted players to appear for their state teams in all domestic competitions, including Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy, while being away from international commitments, Pandya hasn’t featured in one. ALSO READ: Impossible to be without Virat Kohli at T20 World Cup 2024: Kris Srikkanth slams rumour-mongers While he remains the top guy in the white-ball format, primarily in the T20Is (for his exploits), Pandya hasn’t turned up for the Test side since last playing in 2018. Irked over BCCI’s double standards regarding certain players, Praveen, known for being blunt with his expressions, asked why rules differ for Hardik while others suffer a contrasting fate for similar fouls. “Has Hardik Pandya descended from the moon? He has to play too. Why are there different rules for him? The BCCI should threaten him. Why would you play just the domestic T20 tournament (DY Patil)? Play all three formats. Or have you played 60-70 Test matches that you will just play T20? The country needs you," Kumar said on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel. Praveen seeks clarity on Pandya as Test cricketer After dodging queries around his role as a Test cricketer, Pandya, around last year’s World Test Championship (in June), reverted to one of the questions, saying, ‘I haven't even done 10 per cent to reach there.’ Questioning his role as a Test cricketer, Praveen asked if Pandya had given it in writing to the board that he would remain unavailable for selection in the longer format, and if not then he must clear his stance on picking format per his liking. "Give it in writing that I am not available for Tests. Neither are you committing from it nor are you withdrawing entirely. The BCCI should also be questioned. "You can't twist and mould rules for one player. But I feel that there must have been a discussion. If they think Hardik is an asset in T20 and we don't want his fitness to be affected. Then it's fine. Either that or a player should be informed that he is only going to be considered for T20s and ODIs but not for Tests. That way, a player is satisfied knowing about his future," Praveen added. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting March 22 in Chennai. Mumbai will face Gujarat on Sunday (March 24) in an away clash in their opener.

IPL 2024: Praveen Kumar launches scathing attack on Hardik Pandya over 'special treatment'

The BCCI might have left out the batting duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contract list for this season, but head coach Rahul Dravid feels they must put this behind them and train harder, score runs in the domestic and come back to wear the blue jersey again.&nbsp;

After India completed a 4-1 series win over England with an innings and 64 run victory in the final Test in Dharamsala on Saturday (March 9), Dravid addressed the elephant in the room and shared his thoughts on the star duo.

While Ishan asked to remain unavailable for selection following South Africa ODIs late last year, citing personal reasons, Iyer complained of back spasms after being left out of India’s squad for the final three Tests (vs England) despite the doctors at the NCA clearing him of any injury issue.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-secretary-jay-shah-introduces-incentive-scheme-to-protect-and-promote-test-cricket-in-india-698339">BCCI secretary Jay Shah introduces ‘incentive scheme’ to protect and promote Test cricket in India</a>

The Indian board had earlier issued a directive asking the centrally contracted players, who are neither picked in any India squad nor are getting treated at the NCA for any injury, to appear for their respective Ranji teams, pointing fingers at Iyer and Ishan.&nbsp;

After both didn’t abide by the instructions laid by the BCCI, the board sent another warning to the duo; even when both remained unavailable for selection after that, the cricket board took stern action against them by not retaining them in their central contract list for 2023-2024 season.

However, Ishan trained with his IPL team captain, Hardik Pandya, in Baroda, and Iyer made himself available for selection for Mumbai’s semi-final match in the Ranji Trophy.

<h2>‘Everyone playing domestic remains in the mix’</h2>

While addressing this issue, Dravid said both will remain in contention for selection, adding everyone playing domestic cricket will stay afloat in the mix for India call-up.&nbsp;

"They're always in the mix," Dravid said after India's 4-1 series win over England in Dharmsala on Saturday.&nbsp;

"Everyone who's playing domestic cricket is in the mix. Firstly, I don't decide contracts, right? Contracts are decided by the selectors and the board. I don't even know what the criteria are. I'm involved in - people ask me my opinion on the 15, and me and Rohit select the XI. That's how it works,” the head coach added.&nbsp;

Clearing the air on what happens behind the scenes while picking a squad for a series, Dravid said,&nbsp;"We've never discussed whether somebody has a contract or not, whether he's going to be selected in the 15. There are enough examples of people playing different formats of the game, whether they have contracts or not."

"I don't even know sometimes what the list of the contracted players is when we take these decisions, discussions on the 15 or the playing 11 for that matter. No one's out of the picture, no one's out of the mix, it's just a question of hopefully them getting back and fit, playing cricket, and forcing the selectors to pick them again,” he added.

The BCCI might have left out the batting duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contract list for this season, but head coach Rahul Dravid feels they must put this behind them and train harder, score runs in the domestic and come back to wear the blue jersey again.

The BCCI might have left out the batting duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contract list for this season, but head coach Rahul Dravid feels they must put this behind them and train harder, score runs in the domestic and come back to wear the blue jersey again. After India completed a 4-1 series win over England with an innings and 64 run victory in the final Test in Dharamsala on Saturday (March 9), Dravid addressed the elephant in the room and shared his thoughts on the star duo. While Ishan asked to remain unavailable for selection following South Africa ODIs late last year, citing personal reasons, Iyer complained of back spasms after being left out of India’s squad for the final three Tests (vs England) despite the doctors at the NCA clearing him of any injury issue. ALSO READ: BCCI secretary Jay Shah introduces ‘incentive scheme’ to protect and promote Test cricket in India The Indian board had earlier issued a directive asking the centrally contracted players, who are neither picked in any India squad nor are getting treated at the NCA for any injury, to appear for their respective Ranji teams, pointing fingers at Iyer and Ishan. After both didn’t abide by the instructions laid by the BCCI, the board sent another warning to the duo; even when both remained unavailable for selection after that, the cricket board took stern action against them by not retaining them in their central contract list for 2023-2024 season. However, Ishan trained with his IPL team captain, Hardik Pandya, in Baroda, and Iyer made himself available for selection for Mumbai’s semi-final match in the Ranji Trophy. ‘Everyone playing domestic remains in the mix’ While addressing this issue, Dravid said both will remain in contention for selection, adding everyone playing domestic cricket will stay afloat in the mix for India call-up. "They're always in the mix," Dravid said after India's 4-1 series win over England in Dharmsala on Saturday. "Everyone who's playing domestic cricket is in the mix. Firstly, I don't decide contracts, right? Contracts are decided by the selectors and the board. I don't even know what the criteria are. I'm involved in - people ask me my opinion on the 15, and me and Rohit select the XI. That's how it works,” the head coach added. Clearing the air on what happens behind the scenes while picking a squad for a series, Dravid said, "We've never discussed whether somebody has a contract or not, whether he's going to be selected in the 15. There are enough examples of people playing different formats of the game, whether they have contracts or not." "I don't even know sometimes what the list of the contracted players is when we take these decisions, discussions on the 15 or the playing 11 for that matter. No one's out of the picture, no one's out of the mix, it's just a question of hopefully them getting back and fit, playing cricket, and forcing the selectors to pick them again,” he added.

India coach Rahul Dravid breaks silence on Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan’s future after contract snub

India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan has reportedly rejected BCCI’s offer of making a comeback during the ongoing England Tests, saying he is not ‘ready yet’. Amidst the backlash Ishan and Shreyas Iyer received following declining to appear for their respective state sides in the Ranji Trophy, the BCCI released them from the latest list of centrally contracted players.

The latest reports suggested that the BCCI approached Kishan, but the emerging star refused. Instead, he opted to train separately, with several reports suggesting he trained with India all-rounder Hardik Pandya in Baroda.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/usman-khawaja-forced-to-remove-banned-dove-logo-from-bat-during-day-3-of-wellington-test-695813">Usman Khawaja forced to remove ‘banned’ dove logo from bat during day 3 of Wellington Test</a>

"ESPNcricinfo understands the team management had got in touch with him (Kishan) during the ongoing Test series against England, but Kishan said he was not ready yet," read the report on the cricket website.

Following the South Africa ODIs late last year, Ishan informed BCCI of its decision to remain unavailable for selection, citing mental fatigue. Besides, the BCCI left Shreyas Iyer out from India’s Test squad for the last three matches with persisting groin and back injury.

The BCCI, soon after, released a mandate asking both the players to make themselves available for their Ranji Trophy teams. Since none appeared to abide by it in the first place, the Indian Cricket Board issued a second warning, this time with clear instructions of them serving serious repercussions in case of repeated fouls.

Ishan then appeared in a local tournament - the DY Patil T20 Cup, with Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav playing it. Iyer got named in the Mumbai squad for their semi-final clash against Tamil Nadu.

<h2>Ishan was to replace KS Bharat in XI</h2>

Keeper-batter KS Bharat was out of touch in the first two matches, failing with the bat in hand. The selectors were keen on replacing him with Ishan Kishan in the playing XI for the remaining games, but with Ishan refusing to accept the offer, the management went ahead with youngster Dhurv Jurel. 
 
Jurel shined on his first two outings, helping India win the fourth Test, scoring match-winning 90 and 32* in the two&nbsp;innings, respectively.

However, considering the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA in June, with Rishabh Pant nearing full fitness, Ishan might have missed the chance of getting picked for the marquee event.

Meanwhile, Ishan and Iyer will be seen playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ishan will play for Mumbai Indians, while Iyer will captain Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).&nbsp;

India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan has reportedly rejected BCCI’s offer of making a comeback during the ongoing England Tests, saying he is not ‘ready yet’. Amidst the backlash Ishan and Shreyas Iyer received following declining to appear for their respective state sides in the Ranji Trophy, the BCCI released them from the latest list of centrally contracted players.

India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan has reportedly rejected BCCI’s offer of making a comeback during the ongoing England Tests, saying he is not ‘ready yet’. Amidst the backlash Ishan and Shreyas Iyer received following declining to appear for their respective state sides in the Ranji Trophy, the BCCI released them from the latest list of centrally contracted players. The latest reports suggested that the BCCI approached Kishan, but the emerging star refused. Instead, he opted to train separately, with several reports suggesting he trained with India all-rounder Hardik Pandya in Baroda. ALSO READ: Usman Khawaja forced to remove ‘banned’ dove logo from bat during day 3 of Wellington Test "ESPNcricinfo understands the team management had got in touch with him (Kishan) during the ongoing Test series against England, but Kishan said he was not ready yet," read the report on the cricket website. Following the South Africa ODIs late last year, Ishan informed BCCI of its decision to remain unavailable for selection, citing mental fatigue. Besides, the BCCI left Shreyas Iyer out from India’s Test squad for the last three matches with persisting groin and back injury. The BCCI, soon after, released a mandate asking both the players to make themselves available for their Ranji Trophy teams. Since none appeared to abide by it in the first place, the Indian Cricket Board issued a second warning, this time with clear instructions of them serving serious repercussions in case of repeated fouls. Ishan then appeared in a local tournament - the DY Patil T20 Cup, with Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav playing it. Iyer got named in the Mumbai squad for their semi-final clash against Tamil Nadu. Ishan was to replace KS Bharat in XI Keeper-batter KS Bharat was out of touch in the first two matches, failing with the bat in hand. The selectors were keen on replacing him with Ishan Kishan in the playing XI for the remaining games, but with Ishan refusing to accept the offer, the management went ahead with youngster Dhurv Jurel. Jurel shined on his first two outings, helping India win the fourth Test, scoring match-winning 90 and 32* in the two innings, respectively. However, considering the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA in June, with Rishabh Pant nearing full fitness, Ishan might have missed the chance of getting picked for the marquee event. Meanwhile, Ishan and Iyer will be seen playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ishan will play for Mumbai Indians, while Iyer will captain Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Ishan Kishan rejected BCCI’s offer to play in England Tests – Reports

It has been a topsy-turvy couple of days for the Indian duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer after they were snubbed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). On Wednesday (Feb 28), the BCCI announced its list for central contracts with both Ishan and Shreyas missing out on the annual deal. While their exclusion was based on their poor attitudes of not representing their domestic sides in favour of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a source close to the BCCI has said&nbsp;they could still land a central contract and a place in the national team.

<h2>Ishan, Shreyas could still earn a contract</h2>

"The selectors don't doubt their ability," a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. "But if the NCA is saying you are fit and you are not making yourself available for the Test series, how can the BCCI offer you a contract?

"After the IPL, if they happen to get selected and fulfill the criteria of the number of matches required for a pro-rata contract, they will be awarded a contract."

According to the announcement made on Wednesday, a player could yet earn a deal if he fulfills the criteria to earn a pro-rata contract. However, it also confirms that the duo would not get a contract at least until the T20 World Cup, if the BCCI decides otherwise.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-congratulate-the-bcci-kapil-dev-praises-national-board-for-safeguarding-domestic-cricket-695578">'I congratulate the BCCI': Kapil Dev praises national board for safeguarding domestic cricket</a>

<h2>What prompted BCCI to take action?</h2>

Ishan during the South Africa tour opted to miss the Test series having been down the pecking order in the Playing XI and was reportedly spotted in UAE at a party. He would later miss matches for his domestic side Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy despite being passed fit. His desire to focus on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) and not show up for domestic duties did not go well with the BCCI which prompted the action.

For Shreyas, he was part of the Indian team for the opening two Test matches against England but complained of back spasms. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) declared Shreyas fit, but he too like Ishan refrained from representing Mumbai or India.

It has been a topsy-turvy couple of days for the Indian duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer after they were snubbed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

It has been a topsy-turvy couple of days for the Indian duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer after they were snubbed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). On Wednesday (Feb 28), the BCCI announced its list for central contracts with both Ishan and Shreyas missing out on the annual deal. While their exclusion was based on their poor attitudes of not representing their domestic sides in favour of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a source close to the BCCI has said they could still land a central contract and a place in the national team. Ishan, Shreyas could still earn a contract "The selectors don't doubt their ability," a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. "But if the NCA is saying you are fit and you are not making yourself available for the Test series, how can the BCCI offer you a contract? "After the IPL, if they happen to get selected and fulfill the criteria of the number of matches required for a pro-rata contract, they will be awarded a contract." According to the announcement made on Wednesday, a player could yet earn a deal if he fulfills the criteria to earn a pro-rata contract. However, it also confirms that the duo would not get a contract at least until the T20 World Cup, if the BCCI decides otherwise. ALSO READ | 'I congratulate the BCCI': Kapil Dev praises national board for safeguarding domestic cricket What prompted BCCI to take action? Ishan during the South Africa tour opted to miss the Test series having been down the pecking order in the Playing XI and was reportedly spotted in UAE at a party. He would later miss matches for his domestic side Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy despite being passed fit. His desire to focus on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) and not show up for domestic duties did not go well with the BCCI which prompted the action. For Shreyas, he was part of the Indian team for the opening two Test matches against England but complained of back spasms. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) declared Shreyas fit, but he too like Ishan refrained from representing Mumbai or India.

Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan likely to get contracts on THIS condition, says BCCI source

India’s former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its actions to safeguard domestic cricket on Friday (Mar 1). According to the legendary player, the decision by the BCCI to mandate players to play in domestic cricket will only protect the sport. The BCCI recently announced the contracts for national team players with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer missing out on having opted to stay away from domestic cricket despite being available.

<h2>Kapil Dev lauds BCCI</h2>

“I congratulate the BCCI for taking the much-needed step to protect the status of domestic cricket. I was sad to see domestic cricket being given the skip by players once they had established themselves in international cricket. It was high time the message was given and this strong step by the BCCI will go a long way in restoring the prestige of domestic cricket,” Dev said while speaking to news agency PTI.

“I have always believed in the process of international players making themselves available to play for their respective states. It helps them extend their support to domestic players. Also it is a nice way to pay back for the services rendered by the state association in grooming a player,” he added.

The BCCI on Wednesday made a bold statement by excluding both Ishan and Shreyas from the central contracts despite them being part of the World Cup squad as recently as November. However, both opting to stay away from national as well as domestic duties prompted BCCI to take strict action. According to the new mandate players contracted to BCCI will have to serve for the national side when called up or represent their domestic sides.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-dhruv-jurel-can-reach-the-standards-of-ms-dhoni-former-spinner-anil-kumbles-big-claim-695400">IND vs ENG: Dhruv Jurel can reach the standards of MS Dhoni - Former spinner Anil Kumble's BIG claim</a>

<h2>What prompted BCCI to take action?</h2>

Ishan during the South Africa tour opted to miss the Test series having been down the pecking order in the Playing XI and was reportedly spotted in UAE at a party. He&nbsp;later missed matches for his domestic side Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy despite being passed fit. His desire to focus on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) and not show up for domestic duties did not augur well with the BCCI.

For Shreyas, he was part of the Indian team for the opening two Test matches against England but complained of back spasms. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) declared Shreyas fit, but he too like Ishan refrained from representing Mumbai or India.

It will be interesting to see how the players act with the eyes now on the T20 World Cup squad with Ishan being one of the first names on the team sheet. The BCCI will likely announce the World Cup squad in the second week of May with IPL in the focus.&nbsp;

India’s former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its actions to safeguard domestic cricket on Friday (Mar 1).

India’s former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its actions to safeguard domestic cricket on Friday (Mar 1). According to the legendary player, the decision by the BCCI to mandate players to play in domestic cricket will only protect the sport. The BCCI recently announced the contracts for national team players with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer missing out on having opted to stay away from domestic cricket despite being available. Kapil Dev lauds BCCI “I congratulate the BCCI for taking the much-needed step to protect the status of domestic cricket. I was sad to see domestic cricket being given the skip by players once they had established themselves in international cricket. It was high time the message was given and this strong step by the BCCI will go a long way in restoring the prestige of domestic cricket,” Dev said while speaking to news agency PTI. “I have always believed in the process of international players making themselves available to play for their respective states. It helps them extend their support to domestic players. Also it is a nice way to pay back for the services rendered by the state association in grooming a player,” he added. The BCCI on Wednesday made a bold statement by excluding both Ishan and Shreyas from the central contracts despite them being part of the World Cup squad as recently as November. However, both opting to stay away from national as well as domestic duties prompted BCCI to take strict action. According to the new mandate players contracted to BCCI will have to serve for the national side when called up or represent their domestic sides. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG: Dhruv Jurel can reach the standards of MS Dhoni - Former spinner Anil Kumble's BIG claim What prompted BCCI to take action? Ishan during the South Africa tour opted to miss the Test series having been down the pecking order in the Playing XI and was reportedly spotted in UAE at a party. He later missed matches for his domestic side Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy despite being passed fit. His desire to focus on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) and not show up for domestic duties did not augur well with the BCCI. For Shreyas, he was part of the Indian team for the opening two Test matches against England but complained of back spasms. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) declared Shreyas fit, but he too like Ishan refrained from representing Mumbai or India. It will be interesting to see how the players act with the eyes now on the T20 World Cup squad with Ishan being one of the first names on the team sheet. The BCCI will likely announce the World Cup squad in the second week of May with IPL in the focus.

'I congratulate the BCCI': Kapil Dev praises national board for safeguarding domestic cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors were not happy with Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan making themselves unavailable for selection and hence were dropped from the list of centrally contracted players. Both Iyer and Kishan were not named in the list of 30 players who received the board's central contract on Wednesday (Feb 28). The board, in a statement, also advised the newly contracted players to participate in domestic games when not on national duty.

"The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team," read the BCCI statement.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bcci-drops-shreyas-iyer-and-ishan-kishan-from-central-contract-check-full-list-of-players-inside-694796">BCCI drops Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from central contract. Check full list of players</a>

Notably, Kishan has been on personal time off since India's tour of South Africa in December 2023 and hasn't played in domestic first-class tournament Ranji trophy. He, however, has been practicing with Hardik Pandya for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Both Pandya and Kishan play for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

Iyer, on the other hand, most recently played for India in the first two Tests of the ongoing five-match series against England. The batter was reported to have complained about playing long innings and was dropped from the squad of the next three Tests. Iyer, although, did not appear for his Ranji side Mumbai but went to his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders' pre-season training camp.

He had opted out of Mumbai's last Ranji fixture due to back spasms but the National Cricket Academy (NCA) had cleared him of any injury. The batter, however, will be playing Mumbai's upcoming Ranji trophy semi-final game.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo on axing Iyer and Kishan, a BCCI source said: "The selectors don't doubt their ability. But if the NCA is saying you are fit and you are not making yourself available for the Test series, how can the BCCI offer you a contract?

"After the IPL, if they happen to get selected and fulfil the criteria of the number of matches required for a pro-rata contract, they will be awarded a contract," added the source.

Apart from the 30 centrally contracted players divided into four grades, namely: A-plus, A, B and C, five pacers namely Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa have been recommended for a fast bowling contract.

The board also said that in its release that the players who fulfill a minimum criteria of playing 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is in the specified time period will automatically be included in the Grade C list on pro-rata basis.&nbsp;

It means that Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan will be eligible for the BCCI Grade C contract if they make it to the playing XI of the fifth Test against England in Dharamsala which starts on March 7. Both the players have already featured in the two Tests of the ongoing series.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors were not happy with Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan making themselves unavailable for selection and hence were dropped from the list of centrally contracted players.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors were not happy with Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan making themselves unavailable for selection and hence were dropped from the list of centrally contracted players. Both Iyer and Kishan were not named in the list of 30 players who received the board's central contract on Wednesday (Feb 28). The board, in a statement, also advised the newly contracted players to participate in domestic games when not on national duty. "The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team," read the BCCI statement. Also Read: BCCI drops Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from central contract. Check full list of players Notably, Kishan has been on personal time off since India's tour of South Africa in December 2023 and hasn't played in domestic first-class tournament Ranji trophy. He, however, has been practicing with Hardik Pandya for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Both Pandya and Kishan play for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Iyer, on the other hand, most recently played for India in the first two Tests of the ongoing five-match series against England. The batter was reported to have complained about playing long innings and was dropped from the squad of the next three Tests. Iyer, although, did not appear for his Ranji side Mumbai but went to his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders' pre-season training camp. He had opted out of Mumbai's last Ranji fixture due to back spasms but the National Cricket Academy (NCA) had cleared him of any injury. The batter, however, will be playing Mumbai's upcoming Ranji trophy semi-final game. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo on axing Iyer and Kishan, a BCCI source said: "The selectors don't doubt their ability. But if the NCA is saying you are fit and you are not making yourself available for the Test series, how can the BCCI offer you a contract? "After the IPL, if they happen to get selected and fulfil the criteria of the number of matches required for a pro-rata contract, they will be awarded a contract," added the source. Apart from the 30 centrally contracted players divided into four grades, namely: A-plus, A, B and C, five pacers namely Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa have been recommended for a fast bowling contract. The board also said that in its release that the players who fulfill a minimum criteria of playing 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is in the specified time period will automatically be included in the Grade C list on pro-rata basis. It means that Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan will be eligible for the BCCI Grade C contract if they make it to the playing XI of the fifth Test against England in Dharamsala which starts on March 7. Both the players have already featured in the two Tests of the ongoing series.

Here's why Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were dropped from BCCI's central contract

Former BCCI president and India captain Sourav Ganguly is surprised with top-tier players, mainly Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, for skipping Ranji Trophy matches. Ganguly came down hard on the batting duo for overlooking the premier domestic tournament for respective reasons despite receiving clear and strict directives from the Indian Board to appear in the matches. As a result, the BCCI released them from the central contract list for the upcoming season.

Ganguly said everyone is supposed to play in the Ranji Trophy, including the centrally contracted players not picked for any Indian squad.&nbsp;

Following the South Africa ODIs and T20Is late last year, Ishan Kishan informed the BCCI of remaining unavailable for selection for an indefinite period, citing mental fatigue. He skipped the Ranji Trophy matches for his state (Jharkhand), and despite repeated warnings from the board, Ishan didn’t appear to play for his team.

Instead, Kishan was training with Hardik Pandya – the newly appointed captain of Mumbai Indians (the team Ishan opens the batting for in the IPL) in Baroda.&nbsp;

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"You are supposed to play first-class cricket. Once you are a contracted player, you are expected to play the Premier tournament,” Ganguly said.

“Shreyas Iyer is playing the semi-final for Mumbai in a couple of days' time. Yes, they are young people, and Ishan has surprised me. He was part of the Indian team in all formats. Such a big contract in IPL. I don't know why he has done that. You must play especially when you are as gifted as Ishan Kishan.&nbsp;

"When you are playing for India in all formats, you must play. I was surprised by his decision not to," said Ganguly.&nbsp;

<h2>BCCI is right in&nbsp;taking&nbsp;this call</h2>

Ishan’s teammate and top middle-order batter, Shreyas, suffered the same fate.&nbsp;

Upon regaining full fitness ahead of the Asia Cup last year, Iyer played a handy role in helping India reach the 2023 World Cup finals but again suffered back issues during the ongoing India-England series.&nbsp;

Considering the reoccurrence of his back-related problems and the lean patch in red-ball cricket, the selectors dropped him from the squad for the last three Tests.&nbsp;

However, upon getting fitness clearance from the NCA, Iyer got included in Mumbai’s squad for the Ranji semis.

"I think the BCCI wants them to play first-class cricket. I am surprised why Shreyas Iyer has not played Ranji Trophy. It is a premier tournament, and you are supposed to play.&nbsp;

“So, it is a decision by BCCI and what they have thought right they have done. Every contracted cricketer must play first-class cricket because that is the basic premise of cricket in this country," Ganguly told Revsportz.

However, all concerned players here, including Pandya, returned to competitive cricket, playing in the DY Patil T20 Cup in Navi Mumbai.

Former BCCI president and India captain Sourav Ganguly is surprised with top-tier players, mainly Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, for skipping Ranji Trophy matches.

Former BCCI president and India captain Sourav Ganguly is surprised with top-tier players, mainly Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, for skipping Ranji Trophy matches. Ganguly came down hard on the batting duo for overlooking the premier domestic tournament for respective reasons despite receiving clear and strict directives from the Indian Board to appear in the matches. As a result, the BCCI released them from the central contract list for the upcoming season. Ganguly said everyone is supposed to play in the Ranji Trophy, including the centrally contracted players not picked for any Indian squad. Following the South Africa ODIs and T20Is late last year, Ishan Kishan informed the BCCI of remaining unavailable for selection for an indefinite period, citing mental fatigue. He skipped the Ranji Trophy matches for his state (Jharkhand), and despite repeated warnings from the board, Ishan didn’t appear to play for his team. Instead, Kishan was training with Hardik Pandya – the newly appointed captain of Mumbai Indians (the team Ishan opens the batting for in the IPL) in Baroda. ALSO READ: IND v ENG: Devdutt Padikkal in line for Test debut in Dharamsala as India eye 4-1 finish "You are supposed to play first-class cricket. Once you are a contracted player, you are expected to play the Premier tournament,” Ganguly said. “Shreyas Iyer is playing the semi-final for Mumbai in a couple of days' time. Yes, they are young people, and Ishan has surprised me. He was part of the Indian team in all formats. Such a big contract in IPL. I don't know why he has done that. You must play especially when you are as gifted as Ishan Kishan. "When you are playing for India in all formats, you must play. I was surprised by his decision not to," said Ganguly. BCCI is right in taking this call Ishan’s teammate and top middle-order batter, Shreyas, suffered the same fate. Upon regaining full fitness ahead of the Asia Cup last year, Iyer played a handy role in helping India reach the 2023 World Cup finals but again suffered back issues during the ongoing India-England series. Considering the reoccurrence of his back-related problems and the lean patch in red-ball cricket, the selectors dropped him from the squad for the last three Tests. However, upon getting fitness clearance from the NCA, Iyer got included in Mumbai’s squad for the Ranji semis. "I think the BCCI wants them to play first-class cricket. I am surprised why Shreyas Iyer has not played Ranji Trophy. It is a premier tournament, and you are supposed to play. “So, it is a decision by BCCI and what they have thought right they have done. Every contracted cricketer must play first-class cricket because that is the basic premise of cricket in this country," Ganguly told Revsportz. However, all concerned players here, including Pandya, returned to competitive cricket, playing in the DY Patil T20 Cup in Navi Mumbai.

‘I am surprised by his decision to skip Ranji matches’ – Ex-BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly on Ishan Kishan

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have been dropped from the list of centrally contracted players of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The list was announced by the board on Wednesday (Feb 28) for the season from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. A total of 30 players were named in the list with a fast bowling contract for five pacers including Akash Deep who made his debut in the fourth Test of the ongoing England series in Ranchi.

The BCCI also advised the players to turn up in the domestic cricket when they are not engaged in the national duty. This comes as both Iyer and Kishan did not feature in the first-class tournament (Ranji Trophy) for their respective teams recently.

"The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team," read the release.

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The 30 players have been divided into four grades, namely: A-plus, A, B and C. Here's the full list of players in each grade:

Grade A+ (4 players): Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.

Grade A (6 players): R Ashwin, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya.

Grade B (5 players): Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Grade C (15 players): Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, KS Bharat, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan and Rajat Patidar.

Additionally, the board also said that in its release that the players who fulfill a minimum criteria of playing 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is in the specified time period will automatically be included in the Grade C list on pro-rata basis.&nbsp;

It means that Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan will be eligible for the BCCI Grade C contract if they make it to the playing XI of the fifth Test against England in Dharamsala which starts on March 7. Both the players have already featured in the two Tests of the ongoing series.

Apart from the 30 players, five pacers namely Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa have been recommended for a fast bowling contract.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have been dropped from the list of centrally contracted players of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The list was announced by the board on Wednesday (Feb 28) for the season from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have been dropped from the list of centrally contracted players of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The list was announced by the board on Wednesday (Feb 28) for the season from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. A total of 30 players were named in the list with a fast bowling contract for five pacers including Akash Deep who made his debut in the fourth Test of the ongoing England series in Ranchi. The BCCI also advised the players to turn up in the domestic cricket when they are not engaged in the national duty. This comes as both Iyer and Kishan did not feature in the first-class tournament (Ranji Trophy) for their respective teams recently. "The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team," read the release. Also Read: Steve Smith 'isn't sure of a place' in Australia squad for upcoming T20 World Cup The 30 players have been divided into four grades, namely: A-plus, A, B and C. Here's the full list of players in each grade: Grade A+ (4 players): Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. Grade A (6 players): R Ashwin, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya. Grade B (5 players): Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Grade C (15 players): Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, KS Bharat, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan and Rajat Patidar. Additionally, the board also said that in its release that the players who fulfill a minimum criteria of playing 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is in the specified time period will automatically be included in the Grade C list on pro-rata basis. It means that Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan will be eligible for the BCCI Grade C contract if they make it to the playing XI of the fifth Test against England in Dharamsala which starts on March 7. Both the players have already featured in the two Tests of the ongoing series. Apart from the 30 players, five pacers namely Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa have been recommended for a fast bowling contract.

BCCI drops Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from central contract. Check full list of players

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a bonus apart from match fee&nbsp;for the Indian players to play Test cricket. The talks of raising the match fees/bonus comes at a time when players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have decided to opt out of domestic red-ball cricket (Ranji Trophy) and instead&nbsp;focus on the upcoming T20 tournament Indian Premier League (IPL). Currently, a player gets around $20,000 (INR 15 lakh) to play a Test for India.

Talking about the proposed changes in pay structure, a source in the BCCI told media outlet the Indian Express: “For example, if someone plays all Test series in a calendar year, he should be rewarded additionally, apart from the annual retainer contract. This is to ensure that players turn out for more red-ball cricket. This would be an additional perk for playing Test cricket.”

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Apart from Tests, players also get around $8,000 (INR 6 lakh) per ODI and $4,000 (INR 3 lakh) for T20 internationals. All this is in addition to the BCCI's yearly central contract amount in multiple grades.

The discussion seems to stem from the situation around Iyer and Kishan. Both the players were asked to take part in ongoing Ranji Trophy for their respective teams after not being named in India's squad for last three Tests against England in the ongoing series. Kishan has taken a leave due to personal reasons since South Africa tour in December 2023, while Iyer was part of the India's squad for England Tests in the first two Tests before being dropped.

Despite the BCCI's instructions, Kishan did not have a word with Jharkhand cricket Association (JCA) while Iyer opted out of the Mumbai's Ranji Trophy fixture citing back injury issue. The National Cricket Academy (NCA), however, refuted Iyer's claim and said that he's match-fit.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a bonus apart from match fee for the Indian players to play Test cricket. The talks of raising the match fees/bonus comes at a time when players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have decided to opt out of domestic red-ball cricket (Ranji Trophy) and instead focus on the upcoming T20 tournament Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a bonus apart from match fee for the Indian players to play Test cricket. The talks of raising the match fees/bonus comes at a time when players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have decided to opt out of domestic red-ball cricket (Ranji Trophy) and instead focus on the upcoming T20 tournament Indian Premier League (IPL). Currently, a player gets around $20,000 (INR 15 lakh) to play a Test for India. Talking about the proposed changes in pay structure, a source in the BCCI told media outlet the Indian Express: “For example, if someone plays all Test series in a calendar year, he should be rewarded additionally, apart from the annual retainer contract. This is to ensure that players turn out for more red-ball cricket. This would be an additional perk for playing Test cricket.” Also Read: Namibia batter Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scores fastest T20I hundred Apart from Tests, players also get around $8,000 (INR 6 lakh) per ODI and $4,000 (INR 3 lakh) for T20 internationals. All this is in addition to the BCCI's yearly central contract amount in multiple grades. The discussion seems to stem from the situation around Iyer and Kishan. Both the players were asked to take part in ongoing Ranji Trophy for their respective teams after not being named in India's squad for last three Tests against England in the ongoing series. Kishan has taken a leave due to personal reasons since South Africa tour in December 2023, while Iyer was part of the India's squad for England Tests in the first two Tests before being dropped. Despite the BCCI's instructions, Kishan did not have a word with Jharkhand cricket Association (JCA) while Iyer opted out of the Mumbai's Ranji Trophy fixture citing back injury issue. The National Cricket Academy (NCA), however, refuted Iyer's claim and said that he's match-fit.

BCCI mulling on rewarding Test cricketers with bonus apart from match fee - Report

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to playing competitive cricket ahead of IPL 2024. Pandya, who suffered an ankle injury during last year’s home World Cup, appeared for his first competitive cricket match for Reliance 1 in the DY Patil T20 Cup in Navi Mumbai on Monday (Feb 26).

The right-handed cricketer picked two for 22 from his quota of three overs and helped his team cross the winning line in a tight chase by coming in at number 10. Pandya‘s Reliance beat Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited by two wickets.

After completing the rehab, Pandya trained in Baroda for some time; later featured in three practice T20 matches alongside Rishabh Pant organised by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Alur last week. Pandya batted and bowled in all those matches and later got clearance from the NCA to feature in this ongoing tournament.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jurel-gill-and-spinners-help-india-beat-england-in-4th-test-in-ranchi-hosts-clinch-five-match-series-693960">Jurel, Gill and spinners help India beat England in 4th Test in Ranchi as hosts clinch five-match series</a>

Following the completion of this tournament, Pandya will return to the NCA in early March for a scheduled final assessment test before joining Mumbai Indians’ training camp ahead of the 17th season of the IPL, beginning on March 22 in Chennai.

Besides Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer will also feature in the DY Patil T20 Cup.&nbsp;

<h2>Top stars return to cricket field</h2>

Following an unsavoury episode surrounding a few centrally contracted players, mainly Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, and the BCCI officials, the concerned India cricketers have returned to on-field cricket.&nbsp;

While Iyer got dropped from the India squad for the final three Tests on precautionary grounds, as he continues to recover from the persistent back injury, Ishan missed all on-field action since Australia T20Is last year.

Kishan got picked in the white-ball squads for the South Africa series but upon landing in India, informed the BCCI of him remaining unavailable for an indefinite period, citing ‘mental fatigue’.&nbsp;

However, the Indian Cricket Board wrote to the concerned centrally contracted players, those who are neither picked for any India Team nor are getting treated at the NCA for any injury, to appear for their respective state teams in the Ranji Trophy.

After both disobeyed BCCI’s clear directives, the board re-wrote to them warning of severe implications in case of repeated fouls.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya will lead Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024, replacing Rohit Sharma, while Kishan and Suryakumar will also feature in the competition.&nbsp;Shreyas Iyer will captain Kolkata Knight Riders.

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to playing competitive cricket ahead of IPL 2024. Pandya, who suffered an ankle injury during last year’s home World Cup, appeared for his first competitive cricket match for Reliance 1 in the DY Patil T20 Cup in Navi Mumbai on Monday (Feb 26).

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to playing competitive cricket ahead of IPL 2024. Pandya, who suffered an ankle injury during last year’s home World Cup, appeared for his first competitive cricket match for Reliance 1 in the DY Patil T20 Cup in Navi Mumbai on Monday (Feb 26). The right-handed cricketer picked two for 22 from his quota of three overs and helped his team cross the winning line in a tight chase by coming in at number 10. Pandya‘s Reliance beat Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited by two wickets. After completing the rehab, Pandya trained in Baroda for some time; later featured in three practice T20 matches alongside Rishabh Pant organised by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Alur last week. Pandya batted and bowled in all those matches and later got clearance from the NCA to feature in this ongoing tournament. ALSO READ: Jurel, Gill and spinners help India beat England in 4th Test in Ranchi as hosts clinch five-match series Following the completion of this tournament, Pandya will return to the NCA in early March for a scheduled final assessment test before joining Mumbai Indians’ training camp ahead of the 17th season of the IPL, beginning on March 22 in Chennai. Besides Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer will also feature in the DY Patil T20 Cup. Top stars return to cricket field Following an unsavoury episode surrounding a few centrally contracted players, mainly Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, and the BCCI officials, the concerned India cricketers have returned to on-field cricket. While Iyer got dropped from the India squad for the final three Tests on precautionary grounds, as he continues to recover from the persistent back injury, Ishan missed all on-field action since Australia T20Is last year. Kishan got picked in the white-ball squads for the South Africa series but upon landing in India, informed the BCCI of him remaining unavailable for an indefinite period, citing ‘mental fatigue’. However, the Indian Cricket Board wrote to the concerned centrally contracted players, those who are neither picked for any India Team nor are getting treated at the NCA for any injury, to appear for their respective state teams in the Ranji Trophy. After both disobeyed BCCI’s clear directives, the board re-wrote to them warning of severe implications in case of repeated fouls. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya will lead Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024, replacing Rohit Sharma, while Kishan and Suryakumar will also feature in the competition. Shreyas Iyer will captain Kolkata Knight Riders.

Hardik Pandya returns to competitive cricket for first time since suffering ankle injury

The latest reports emerging from the Indian cricket board present a gloomy picture for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. Away from on-field cricket citing respective reasons, the batting duo is said to be facing an axe from BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season over skipping Ranji Trophy matches despite strict directives from the board.

"The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, have almost finalised the list of centrally contracted players for the 2023-24 season too, which the BCCI will announce soon.

“Kishan and Iyer are likely to be excluded from that list, as both haven't been playing domestic cricket despite the BCCI's diktat to do so," a source close to the information told Times of India (TOI).

Despite BCCI’s first warning to all centrally contracted players who have&nbsp;not been picked in any India squad nor are getting treated for an injury at the NCA to appear for their respective state teams in the Ranji Trophy, the concerned players disobeyed the orders.

While Ishan Kishan has remained unavailable for selection since the white-ball tour of South Africa late last year, citing mental fatigue, middle-order batter Iyer was dropped from India’s squad for the final three Tests on precautionary grounds as he continues to recover from a back injury.

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While Ishan Kishan skipped the Ranji matches and instead was training with his IPL team (Mumbai Indians) captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda, Iyer remained unavailable for selection for Mumbai for their last league match against Assam at BKC and their ongoing knockout tie against Baroda complaining of back stiffness.

<h2>Confusion around Iyer’s fitness</h2>

Iyer remains firm on his stance of suffering from a persistent back injury that has kept him away from on-field cricket since last year. On the flip side, the latest email from the head of sports, science and medicine at the NCA – Nitin Patel, contradicted his claim.

Per Nitin’s email to the BCCI and selectors, Iyer is not due to get treated for any fresh injuries and was declared fit.

However, addressing this issue, a source close to Iyer said, “Patel's email to the BCCI was written after the second Test against England. Since then, a back problem has bothered Iyer.

“Iyer was one of India's top-performing batsmen in the ODI World Cup in India last year. He won't lose the contract just because he missed the odd Ranji match," the source insisted.

Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, after his first warning to the players, rewrote to them, this time sending a stern warning of all those players facing severe repercussions in case of repeated fouls.

The latest reports emerging from the Indian cricket board present a gloomy picture for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. Away from on-field cricket citing respective reasons, the batting duo is said to be facing an axe from BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season over skipping Ranji Trophy matches despite strict directives from the board.

The latest reports emerging from the Indian cricket board present a gloomy picture for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. Away from on-field cricket citing respective reasons, the batting duo is said to be facing an axe from BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season over skipping Ranji Trophy matches despite strict directives from the board. "The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, have almost finalised the list of centrally contracted players for the 2023-24 season too, which the BCCI will announce soon. “Kishan and Iyer are likely to be excluded from that list, as both haven't been playing domestic cricket despite the BCCI's diktat to do so," a source close to the information told Times of India (TOI). Despite BCCI’s first warning to all centrally contracted players who have not been picked in any India squad nor are getting treated for an injury at the NCA to appear for their respective state teams in the Ranji Trophy, the concerned players disobeyed the orders. While Ishan Kishan has remained unavailable for selection since the white-ball tour of South Africa late last year, citing mental fatigue, middle-order batter Iyer was dropped from India’s squad for the final three Tests on precautionary grounds as he continues to recover from a back injury. ALSO READ: IND v ENG 2024: Rehan Ahmed returns home midway through tour due to family urgency While Ishan Kishan skipped the Ranji matches and instead was training with his IPL team (Mumbai Indians) captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda, Iyer remained unavailable for selection for Mumbai for their last league match against Assam at BKC and their ongoing knockout tie against Baroda complaining of back stiffness. Confusion around Iyer’s fitness Iyer remains firm on his stance of suffering from a persistent back injury that has kept him away from on-field cricket since last year. On the flip side, the latest email from the head of sports, science and medicine at the NCA – Nitin Patel, contradicted his claim. Per Nitin’s email to the BCCI and selectors, Iyer is not due to get treated for any fresh injuries and was declared fit. However, addressing this issue, a source close to Iyer said, “Patel's email to the BCCI was written after the second Test against England. Since then, a back problem has bothered Iyer. “Iyer was one of India's top-performing batsmen in the ODI World Cup in India last year. He won't lose the contract just because he missed the odd Ranji match," the source insisted. Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, after his first warning to the players, rewrote to them, this time sending a stern warning of all those players facing severe repercussions in case of repeated fouls.

Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan might lose central contracts for skipping Ranji Trophy games - Reports

India batter Shreyas Iyer did not feature for Mumbai in their crucial Ranji Trophy knockout match against Baroda, citing a purported back injury. His absence raised questions and concerns within the cricket fraternity.&nbsp;

Despite repetitive reminders from the decision-makers, including BCCI secretary Jay Shah and India head coach Rahul Dravid, Shreyas skipped his team's red-ball matches in Ranji.

Per the latest reports, Iyer remained unavailable for selection despite failing to get picked for the final three England Tests, saying he continues to recover from the persistent back injury that kept him away from on-field cricket for an extended duration since last year.&nbsp;

However, questions arose when Nitin Patel, the head of sports science and medicine at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), contradicted the claim in an email to the BCCI, mentioning no fresh injuries were reported.

With that being said, concerns have started to grow within the board over Iyer’s priorities and inclination towards preserving him for the Indian Premier League rather than appearing for his Ranji Trophy team.&nbsp;

Following Jay Shah’s first warning to certain players, including Iyer and Ishan, for skipping Ranji matches despite not being picked for any India side or getting treated at the NCA for respective injuries, the BCCI secretary warned them of repercussions in case of repeated fouls.

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Despite those two warnings, none appeared for their state teams in Ranji matches.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the board members have begun questioning players’ commitment towards the domestic red-ball matches, which, per Shah, remains the yardstick for selection in the Indian Team.&nbsp;

“There is a recent trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport,” Shah said in the letter to three players – mainly Ishan, Deepak Chahar and Iyer.

“Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset – every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic cricket remains a critical yardstick for selection, and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications,” the BCCI secretary wrote.

<h2>IPL 2024 to start</h2>

The latest edition of the Indian Premier League will begin on March 22 in Chennai.&nbsp;

While Iyer will lead Kolkata Knight Riders in the 17th season, keeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who has been away from cricket since the South Africa white-ball series later last year, citing mental fatigue, will open for Mumbai Indians.

India batter Shreyas Iyer did not feature for Mumbai in their crucial Ranji Trophy knockout match against Baroda, citing a purported back injury. His absence raised questions and concerns within the cricket fraternity.

India batter Shreyas Iyer did not feature for Mumbai in their crucial Ranji Trophy knockout match against Baroda, citing a purported back injury. His absence raised questions and concerns within the cricket fraternity. Despite repetitive reminders from the decision-makers, including BCCI secretary Jay Shah and India head coach Rahul Dravid, Shreyas skipped his team's red-ball matches in Ranji. Per the latest reports, Iyer remained unavailable for selection despite failing to get picked for the final three England Tests, saying he continues to recover from the persistent back injury that kept him away from on-field cricket for an extended duration since last year. However, questions arose when Nitin Patel, the head of sports science and medicine at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), contradicted the claim in an email to the BCCI, mentioning no fresh injuries were reported. With that being said, concerns have started to grow within the board over Iyer’s priorities and inclination towards preserving him for the Indian Premier League rather than appearing for his Ranji Trophy team. Following Jay Shah’s first warning to certain players, including Iyer and Ishan, for skipping Ranji matches despite not being picked for any India side or getting treated at the NCA for respective injuries, the BCCI secretary warned them of repercussions in case of repeated fouls. ALSO READ: IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans pacer Mohammed Shami to miss full season to undergo surgery for ankle injury Despite those two warnings, none appeared for their state teams in Ranji matches. Meanwhile, the board members have begun questioning players’ commitment towards the domestic red-ball matches, which, per Shah, remains the yardstick for selection in the Indian Team. “There is a recent trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport,” Shah said in the letter to three players – mainly Ishan, Deepak Chahar and Iyer. “Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset – every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic cricket remains a critical yardstick for selection, and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications,” the BCCI secretary wrote. IPL 2024 to start The latest edition of the Indian Premier League will begin on March 22 in Chennai. While Iyer will lead Kolkata Knight Riders in the 17th season, keeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who has been away from cricket since the South Africa white-ball series later last year, citing mental fatigue, will open for Mumbai Indians.

Shreyas Iyer prioritising IPL over Ranji Trophy raises questions within cricket fraternity

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has written to top India cricketers, including Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Chahar, to abide by the board's latest directive of centrally contracted players and make&nbsp;themselves available for domestic red-ball tournaments. Shah took action after all three mentioned players failed to appear for their state teams' Ranji Trophy matches despite clear instructions.

Per the latest reports, Shah, in his letter to the players, who are neither picked for any Indian squad nor are getting treated for any injury at the NCA, reminded them of domestic cricket still being the yardstick for selection in the Indian Team and not the IPL.&nbsp;

With the growing concern within the board and fans throughout the country of IPL referred to as the new selection ground, Shah cleared the air, saying domestic cricket hasn't lost its place in line.&nbsp;

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Shah addressed the elephant in the room of IPL eating up domestic cricket’s space in India. He said that no one anticipated this shift among emerging players opting for IPL over playing domestic tournaments; Shah added that the Ranji Trophy remains the very foundation on which Indian cricket stood and has thrived over the years.&nbsp;

“There is a recent trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport,” Shah said in the letter.

<h2>‘Our vision is clear’</h2>

Shah added that any budding player aspiring to wear the India jersey must do well in domestic cricket, and there are no two ways about it.

“Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset – every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic cricket remains a critical yardstick for selection, and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications,” the BCCI secretary wrote.

Ishan Kishan took a break from cricket following the South Africa ODIs in December last year, citing mental fatigue. Per the latest reports, Ishan was in Baroda training with Hardik Pandya - the newly-appointed Mumbai Indians captain in the IPL. Though the board had asked him to appear for his Ranji Team (Jharkhand), Kishan didn’t for reasons unknown.&nbsp;

On the other hand, India batter Shreyas Iyer, who failed to make it to the squad for the remaining three England Tests, also didn’t show up for Mumbai for their ongoing Ranji game against Assam at home.&nbsp;

Citing examples of how senior and celebrated Indian cricketers in the past used to take pride in playing domestic cricket, Shah wrote,

“Legends like Sunil Gavaskar exemplified this dedication, playing club cricket the morning they arrived from an international tour. Domestic cricket was seen not just as a commitment but as a responsibility and a source of pride.”

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has written to top India cricketers, including Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Chahar, to abide by the board's latest directive of centrally contracted players and make themselves available for domestic red-ball tournaments.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has written to top India cricketers, including Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Chahar, to abide by the board's latest directive of centrally contracted players and make themselves available for domestic red-ball tournaments. Shah took action after all three mentioned players failed to appear for their state teams' Ranji Trophy matches despite clear instructions. Per the latest reports, Shah, in his letter to the players, who are neither picked for any Indian squad nor are getting treated for any injury at the NCA, reminded them of domestic cricket still being the yardstick for selection in the Indian Team and not the IPL. With the growing concern within the board and fans throughout the country of IPL referred to as the new selection ground, Shah cleared the air, saying domestic cricket hasn't lost its place in line. ALSO READ: Naseem Shah opens up on facing Virat Kohli for first time; gears up for PSL opener Shah addressed the elephant in the room of IPL eating up domestic cricket’s space in India. He said that no one anticipated this shift among emerging players opting for IPL over playing domestic tournaments; Shah added that the Ranji Trophy remains the very foundation on which Indian cricket stood and has thrived over the years. “There is a recent trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport,” Shah said in the letter. ‘Our vision is clear’ Shah added that any budding player aspiring to wear the India jersey must do well in domestic cricket, and there are no two ways about it. “Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset – every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic cricket remains a critical yardstick for selection, and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications,” the BCCI secretary wrote. Ishan Kishan took a break from cricket following the South Africa ODIs in December last year, citing mental fatigue. Per the latest reports, Ishan was in Baroda training with Hardik Pandya - the newly-appointed Mumbai Indians captain in the IPL. Though the board had asked him to appear for his Ranji Team (Jharkhand), Kishan didn’t for reasons unknown. On the other hand, India batter Shreyas Iyer, who failed to make it to the squad for the remaining three England Tests, also didn’t show up for Mumbai for their ongoing Ranji game against Assam at home. Citing examples of how senior and celebrated Indian cricketers in the past used to take pride in playing domestic cricket, Shah wrote, “Legends like Sunil Gavaskar exemplified this dedication, playing club cricket the morning they arrived from an international tour. Domestic cricket was seen not just as a commitment but as a responsibility and a source of pride.”

Domestic cricket still the yardstick for selection - Jay Shah warns top players over skipping Ranji ties

India keeper batter Ishan Kishan continues to skip the ongoing Ranji Trophy matches of&nbsp;Jharkhand despite the directive by BCCI to&nbsp;all centrally contracted players of making themselves available for first-class matches. With the final round matches starting on Friday (Feb 16), Ishan, Deepak Chahar, and Shreyas Iyer were specifically asked by the board to show up for their respective state teams.

Upset over some of the first-team players&nbsp;not appearing for the first-class matches (for their respective states) despite being fit,&nbsp;board secretary Jay Shah had said that centrally contracted players would be directed&nbsp;to remain available for the matches.

"If you are fit then no excuse will be entertained," Shah said.&nbsp;

"This applies to all centrally contracted players, they have to play. The player cannot decide his future; the selectors need to decide that. If the player is good in red-ball, he has to play,” the BCCI secretary added.&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, in Kishan’s absence, Kumar Kushagra kept wickets for Jharkhand against Rajasthan in a home game.&nbsp;

<h2>Young guns recovering off the field</h2>

Following a successful 2023 Asia Cup campaign, Ishan got picked for the home World Cup late&nbsp;last year. The left-handed batter then played the five-match T20I series against Australia before leaving for South Africa for the white-ball series. During the Proteas tour, Ishan asked BCCI and the team management not to consider him for selection as he wanted to be away from cricket, citing ‘mental fatigue’.

Since then, Ishan has been away from&nbsp;on-field action. As per latest reports, he was training with India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from an&nbsp;ankle injury, in Baroda. Incidentally, Hardik and Ishan are part of the Mumbai Indians squad in the IPL, the latest edition of which begins mid-March.

On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer is&nbsp;suffering&nbsp;from back stiffness.&nbsp;Although he remained available for selection for the remaining three Tests, the selectors dropped him on grounds of fitness and poor form.

Meanwhile, Iyer’s Mumbai has already qualified for the quarter-final and is playing its last league match against Assam at home.

India keeper batter Ishan Kishan continues to skip the ongoing Ranji Trophy matches of Jharkhand despite the directive by BCCI to all centrally contracted players of making themselves available for first-class matches.

India keeper batter Ishan Kishan continues to skip the ongoing Ranji Trophy matches of Jharkhand despite the directive by BCCI to all centrally contracted players of making themselves available for first-class matches. With the final round matches starting on Friday (Feb 16), Ishan, Deepak Chahar, and Shreyas Iyer were specifically asked by the board to show up for their respective state teams. Upset over some of the first-team players not appearing for the first-class matches (for their respective states) despite being fit, board secretary Jay Shah had said that centrally contracted players would be directed to remain available for the matches. "If you are fit then no excuse will be entertained," Shah said. "This applies to all centrally contracted players, they have to play. The player cannot decide his future; the selectors need to decide that. If the player is good in red-ball, he has to play,” the BCCI secretary added. ALSO READ: IND v ENG, Rajkot Test: Here’s why England will start their first innings with five runs on board Meanwhile, in Kishan’s absence, Kumar Kushagra kept wickets for Jharkhand against Rajasthan in a home game. Young guns recovering off the field Following a successful 2023 Asia Cup campaign, Ishan got picked for the home World Cup late last year. The left-handed batter then played the five-match T20I series against Australia before leaving for South Africa for the white-ball series. During the Proteas tour, Ishan asked BCCI and the team management not to consider him for selection as he wanted to be away from cricket, citing ‘mental fatigue’. Since then, Ishan has been away from on-field action. As per latest reports, he was training with India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from an ankle injury, in Baroda. Incidentally, Hardik and Ishan are part of the Mumbai Indians squad in the IPL, the latest edition of which begins mid-March. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer is suffering from back stiffness. Although he remained available for selection for the remaining three Tests, the selectors dropped him on grounds of fitness and poor form. Meanwhile, Iyer’s Mumbai has already qualified for the quarter-final and is playing its last league match against Assam at home.

Ishan Kishan skips Ranji Trophy final round match despite BCCI's directive

Former South African captain AB de Villiers opened up on Ishan Kishan's absence from international cricket. Kishan was part of India's 2023&nbsp;ODI World Cup campaign at home and even took part in the five T20Is&nbsp;versus Australia,&nbsp;held shortly after the mega event. He, however,&nbsp;has not appeared for the national side&nbsp;since withdrawing from India’s Test series against hosts South Africa, in December-January, citing mental fatigue.

A lot has been said and written about Kishan's absence as the keeper-batter hasn't featured in the ongoing home Tests versus England as well. Moreover,&nbsp;the BCCI, the Indian team management and cricket pundits have been a little critical of the 25-year-old&nbsp;for his absence from domestic red-ball cricket.

Recently, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah&nbsp;stated that&nbsp;it was compulsory for centrally contracted Indian cricketers to play domestic games when asked by the selectors. Thus, De Villiers opined on Kishan's unavailability and feels there needs to be 'proper communication' between the star batter and the Indian cricket board, emphasising that there is a way back for everyone.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers said, "Very interesting scenario there in India and I have been through this quite a bit throughout my career as well. It is a very tricky situation. Players trying to manage their careers, and rightfully so, but the difficulty around this is that there are a lot of T20 leagues around the world, IPL, and it's taking up a lot of attention...of the player's focus is on that."

The 39-year-old veteran believes that Kishan’s decision to take time off&nbsp;is a call based on basic human instincts.

"Guys, you do run out of energy, and once you run out of energy, you tend to go in your defensive mode and into a shell where you look after what you feel is important to you, and that's a human reaction,” De Villiers further opined.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/anil-kumble-not-surprised-with-rohit-sharma-confirmed-to-lead-india-in-t20-world-cup-heres-why-690489">Anil Kumble not 'surprised' with Rohit Sharma confirmed to lead India in T20 World Cup! Here's why -</a>

He added, "So, whether Ishan is doing it wrong or other players are doing it right or wrong, I do not know but what needs to happen is proper communication. So, the players know exactly what, not only proper communication but proper and regular communication."

Following India’s 106-run win in the second Test&nbsp;versus England, in Visakhapatnam, head coach Rahul Dravid stressed that Kishan has the ability to decide when he wants to return to the Indian squad, indicating that the youngster needs to play some cricket to regain his spot.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Former South African captain AB de Villiers opened up on Ishan Kishan's absence from international cricket. Kishan was part of India's 2023 ODI World Cup campaign at home and even took part in the five T20Is versus Australia, held shortly after the mega event.

Former South African captain AB de Villiers opened up on Ishan Kishan's absence from international cricket. Kishan was part of India's 2023 ODI World Cup campaign at home and even took part in the five T20Is versus Australia, held shortly after the mega event. He, however, has not appeared for the national side since withdrawing from India’s Test series against hosts South Africa, in December-January, citing mental fatigue. A lot has been said and written about Kishan's absence as the keeper-batter hasn't featured in the ongoing home Tests versus England as well. Moreover, the BCCI, the Indian team management and cricket pundits have been a little critical of the 25-year-old for his absence from domestic red-ball cricket. Recently, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah stated that it was compulsory for centrally contracted Indian cricketers to play domestic games when asked by the selectors. Thus, De Villiers opined on Kishan's unavailability and feels there needs to be 'proper communication' between the star batter and the Indian cricket board, emphasising that there is a way back for everyone. Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers said, "Very interesting scenario there in India and I have been through this quite a bit throughout my career as well. It is a very tricky situation. Players trying to manage their careers, and rightfully so, but the difficulty around this is that there are a lot of T20 leagues around the world, IPL, and it's taking up a lot of attention...of the player's focus is on that." The 39-year-old veteran believes that Kishan’s decision to take time off is a call based on basic human instincts. "Guys, you do run out of energy, and once you run out of energy, you tend to go in your defensive mode and into a shell where you look after what you feel is important to you, and that's a human reaction,” De Villiers further opined. Also read: Anil Kumble not 'surprised' with Rohit Sharma confirmed to lead India in T20 World Cup! Here's why - He added, "So, whether Ishan is doing it wrong or other players are doing it right or wrong, I do not know but what needs to happen is proper communication. So, the players know exactly what, not only proper communication but proper and regular communication." Following India’s 106-run win in the second Test versus England, in Visakhapatnam, head coach Rahul Dravid stressed that Kishan has the ability to decide when he wants to return to the Indian squad, indicating that the youngster needs to play some cricket to regain his spot.

De Villiers opines on Ishan Kishan's absence, urges for 'proper communication' between BCCI and star batter

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (Feb 12)&nbsp;mandated fit and available players to represent the state teams in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season from the next round. The decision by BCCI could see out-of-favour stars Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer representing Jharkhand and Mumbai, respectively in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. While Iyer was dropped recently from the Indian squad, Ishan has been avoiding playing in the Ranji Trophy to be fit and prepared for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season starting on March 22.

<h2>Ishan to represent Jharkhand?</h2>

“Players cannot simply prioritise international cricket or the IPL. They must make themselves available for domestic cricket and honour their commitments to their respective state teams,” according to a BCCI official familiar with the decision.

On Monday, players received an email on their official IDs where it was stated that they would have to make themselves available for domestic selection. Players currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) recovering from issues or on medical leave and rehabilitation have been given an exemption.&nbsp;

The decision comes after several star names&nbsp;decided to stay away from the longest-running domestic format of Indian cricket. Ishan is fit and has not travelled with the Indian squad for the England series due to disciplinary issues. He has been frozen out of the side after he&nbsp;opted to withdraw from the squad during the South Africa tour due to personal issues. However, he was spotted partying in Dubai days later.

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On the other hand, players like Krunal Pandya and Deepak Chahar have also avoided playing for their domestic sides despite being fit. They both have been passed as fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

Shreyas Iyer, on the flip side, has been recently dropped from the Indian side due to lack of form; however, he will be available for selection once he returns from his leave.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (Feb 12) mandated fit and available players to represent the state teams in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season from the next round.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (Feb 12) mandated fit and available players to represent the state teams in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season from the next round. The decision by BCCI could see out-of-favour stars Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer representing Jharkhand and Mumbai, respectively in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. While Iyer was dropped recently from the Indian squad, Ishan has been avoiding playing in the Ranji Trophy to be fit and prepared for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season starting on March 22. Ishan to represent Jharkhand? “Players cannot simply prioritise international cricket or the IPL. They must make themselves available for domestic cricket and honour their commitments to their respective state teams,” according to a BCCI official familiar with the decision. On Monday, players received an email on their official IDs where it was stated that they would have to make themselves available for domestic selection. Players currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) recovering from issues or on medical leave and rehabilitation have been given an exemption. The decision comes after several star names decided to stay away from the longest-running domestic format of Indian cricket. Ishan is fit and has not travelled with the Indian squad for the England series due to disciplinary issues. He has been frozen out of the side after he opted to withdraw from the squad during the South Africa tour due to personal issues. However, he was spotted partying in Dubai days later. ALSO READ | Blow to Multan Sultans as Reece Topley ruled out of PSL 2024; IPL participation under dark cloud On the other hand, players like Krunal Pandya and Deepak Chahar have also avoided playing for their domestic sides despite being fit. They both have been passed as fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Shreyas Iyer, on the flip side, has been recently dropped from the Indian side due to lack of form; however, he will be available for selection once he returns from his leave.

Ishan Kishan likely to play in Ranji Trophy after BCCI mandates players to represent state teams in next round

India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been away from cricket since December last year, citing mental fatigue, and head coach Rahul Dravid says it’s Kishan’s choice on when to return to playing for India. After India’s comeback win (by 106 runs) in the Vizag Test, Dravid touched upon Kishan’s absence, saying the team management is not forcing anyone on any grounds and is happy playing the waiting game here.

Ishan Kishan last featured for India in&nbsp;the home Australia T20Is (after the World Cup) before getting picked for the South Africa series (in Dec 2023), wherein he didn’t play any game, and subsequently asked the BCCI not to consider him for selection.

For the record, Kishan also decided against featuring in the Ranji Trophy.

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"There's a way back for anyone and everyone. It's not that we rule out anybody from anything. I just don't want to go on labouring about the Ishan Kishan point. I've tried to explain it as best as I can. The point was that you know, he requested a break."&nbsp;

“We were happy to give him the break and whenever he was ready… I didn't say he has to play domestic cricket. I said, whenever he's ready he needs to play some cricket and come back, and the choice is his," Dravid added.

"We're not forcing him to do anything and we are in touch with him. It's not that we're not in touch. We know what it is, but he hasn't yet started playing, right? So, at the moment, it's not something that we would consider because, you know, he's maybe not ready."&nbsp;

“He decides when he wants to be ready, and we've got options obviously with Rishabh [Pant] injured and stuff. So, I'm sure the selectors will weigh all the options,” Dravid said.

<h2>'Bharat should have contributed more'</h2>

Meanwhile, in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who continues to recover from multiple injuries he sustained in a road accident in December 2022, the Indian Team backed Ishan to fill in his shoes. And although Kishan was roped in the XI for just two matches, the Indian Team backed KS Bharat to take over the gloves on most occasions.&nbsp;

In seven outings in the whites thus far, Bharat has failed to leave an impact with the bat, with his keeping being moderate on the other side. Considering how his lack of contribution in the middle order troubled India, Dravid is ready to give him another chance to deliver.

"Young players need time to develop, and they're growing at their own pace," Dravid said. "Of course, as a coach, you really want players who come in to be able to grab the opportunities they get and be able to perform. His keeping, to be honest, in the Test matches has been really good. I think he'll also feel that, with his batting, I think he'll agree that he certainly could have done better."

"There were opportunities. Sometimes he's played on some difficult tracks, to be honest, but sometimes he's had the opportunity to make a little bit better contributions,” Dravid concluded.

India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been away from cricket since December last year, citing mental fatigue, and head coach Rahul Dravid says it’s Kishan’s choice on when to return to playing for India.

India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been away from cricket since December last year, citing mental fatigue, and head coach Rahul Dravid says it’s Kishan’s choice on when to return to playing for India. After India’s comeback win (by 106 runs) in the Vizag Test, Dravid touched upon Kishan’s absence, saying the team management is not forcing anyone on any grounds and is happy playing the waiting game here. Ishan Kishan last featured for India in the home Australia T20Is (after the World Cup) before getting picked for the South Africa series (in Dec 2023), wherein he didn’t play any game, and subsequently asked the BCCI not to consider him for selection. For the record, Kishan also decided against featuring in the Ranji Trophy. ALSO READ: IND v ENG - We were confident of chasing 399, says Ben Stokes after second Test loss "There's a way back for anyone and everyone. It's not that we rule out anybody from anything. I just don't want to go on labouring about the Ishan Kishan point. I've tried to explain it as best as I can. The point was that you know, he requested a break." “We were happy to give him the break and whenever he was ready… I didn't say he has to play domestic cricket. I said, whenever he's ready he needs to play some cricket and come back, and the choice is his," Dravid added. "We're not forcing him to do anything and we are in touch with him. It's not that we're not in touch. We know what it is, but he hasn't yet started playing, right? So, at the moment, it's not something that we would consider because, you know, he's maybe not ready." “He decides when he wants to be ready, and we've got options obviously with Rishabh [Pant] injured and stuff. So, I'm sure the selectors will weigh all the options,” Dravid said. 'Bharat should have contributed more' Meanwhile, in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who continues to recover from multiple injuries he sustained in a road accident in December 2022, the Indian Team backed Ishan to fill in his shoes. And although Kishan was roped in the XI for just two matches, the Indian Team backed KS Bharat to take over the gloves on most occasions. In seven outings in the whites thus far, Bharat has failed to leave an impact with the bat, with his keeping being moderate on the other side. Considering how his lack of contribution in the middle order troubled India, Dravid is ready to give him another chance to deliver. "Young players need time to develop, and they're growing at their own pace," Dravid said. "Of course, as a coach, you really want players who come in to be able to grab the opportunities they get and be able to perform. His keeping, to be honest, in the Test matches has been really good. I think he'll also feel that, with his batting, I think he'll agree that he certainly could have done better." "There were opportunities. Sometimes he's played on some difficult tracks, to be honest, but sometimes he's had the opportunity to make a little bit better contributions,” Dravid concluded.

IND vs ENG: Ishan Kishan to decide when to return, Dravid on team management happily playing waiting game

India might have clinched a thriller against Afghanistan in the third T20I in Bengaluru and, with that, a T20I series win, yet they have plenty to ponder over with regards to filling in the best keeper-batters in the final 15 for the T20 World Cup later this year.&nbsp;

With the ‘problem of plenty’ starting to bother the team management, head coach Rahul Dravid rues the lack of T20Is in the lead-up to the marquee event, saying the upcoming season of the IPL will serve as the only parameter for squad selection for the 20-team tournament in the Caribbean and the USA.

While Jitesh Sharma played two out of the three T20Is against Afghanistan, Sanju Samson got the chance in the final game, getting out on a first-ball duck. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan is currently unavailable for selection owing to mental fatigue, while KL Rahul and returning Rishabh Pant are waiting in the wings to get slotted in. With five top-notch keeper-batters available for selection, Dravid feels it’s a good headache for the team.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-wi-2024-josh-hazlewoods-career-best-haul-guides-australia-home-in-adelaide-test-681427">AUS vs WI 2024: Josh Hazlewood’s career-best haul guides Australia home in Adelaide Test</a>

“We have a few wicketkeeping options. All of them are in the mix. We have seen Sanju and Jitesh (in the India-Afghanistan series). We also have Rahul, Kishan and Rishabh. We just need to see how it pans out in the next few months and take a call on what is the best way forward,” Dravid told reporters after India’s win over Afghanistan in the third T20I.

<h2>IPL to serve the purpose</h2>

Though Dravid is happy with several players raising their hands for the limited slots in the team, he is firm on his thought that IPL serves the purpose of helping the selectors and the team management to finalise the keeper-batters for the T20 World Cup.

“It’s nice to see that there are some options (ahead of the T20 World Cup) who have put their hand up, and certainly shown that they’ve got skills to address."

“(There are) some areas that we might need some addressing in, and we were thinking about it. But unfortunately, we really won’t have much cricket as a team anymore. We will obviously have the IPL, and everyone will be watching closely to see how some of those guys play and what are the slots we need to fill in the team,” Dravid said.

Meanwhile, ahead of the ICC event, India will host England for five Tests, starting on January 25 in Hyderabad, and then the IPL gets underway from March end onwards.&nbsp;

India might have clinched a thriller against Afghanistan in the third T20I in Bengaluru and, with that, a T20I series win, yet they have plenty to ponder over with regards to filling in the best keeper-batters in the final 15 for the T20 World Cup later this year.

India might have clinched a thriller against Afghanistan in the third T20I in Bengaluru and, with that, a T20I series win, yet they have plenty to ponder over with regards to filling in the best keeper-batters in the final 15 for the T20 World Cup later this year. With the ‘problem of plenty’ starting to bother the team management, head coach Rahul Dravid rues the lack of T20Is in the lead-up to the marquee event, saying the upcoming season of the IPL will serve as the only parameter for squad selection for the 20-team tournament in the Caribbean and the USA. While Jitesh Sharma played two out of the three T20Is against Afghanistan, Sanju Samson got the chance in the final game, getting out on a first-ball duck. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan is currently unavailable for selection owing to mental fatigue, while KL Rahul and returning Rishabh Pant are waiting in the wings to get slotted in. With five top-notch keeper-batters available for selection, Dravid feels it’s a good headache for the team. ALSO READ: AUS vs WI 2024: Josh Hazlewood’s career-best haul guides Australia home in Adelaide Test “We have a few wicketkeeping options. All of them are in the mix. We have seen Sanju and Jitesh (in the India-Afghanistan series). We also have Rahul, Kishan and Rishabh. We just need to see how it pans out in the next few months and take a call on what is the best way forward,” Dravid told reporters after India’s win over Afghanistan in the third T20I. IPL to serve the purpose Though Dravid is happy with several players raising their hands for the limited slots in the team, he is firm on his thought that IPL serves the purpose of helping the selectors and the team management to finalise the keeper-batters for the T20 World Cup. “It’s nice to see that there are some options (ahead of the T20 World Cup) who have put their hand up, and certainly shown that they’ve got skills to address." “(There are) some areas that we might need some addressing in, and we were thinking about it. But unfortunately, we really won’t have much cricket as a team anymore. We will obviously have the IPL, and everyone will be watching closely to see how some of those guys play and what are the slots we need to fill in the team,” Dravid said. Meanwhile, ahead of the ICC event, India will host England for five Tests, starting on January 25 in Hyderabad, and then the IPL gets underway from March end onwards.

Dravid rues lack of international cricket before T20 WC as ‘problem of plenty’ for keepers hogs limelight

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday (Jan 12) announced a 15-member squad for the first two Test matches against England with the series taking place later this month. In a big surprise, Ishan Kishan was dropped from the squad with uncapped Dhruv Jurel getting the nod. KL Rahul and KS Bharat have also been included as wicketkeeper options in the squad for the five-match Test series which starts on Thursday (Jan 25).

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🚨 NEWS 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>'s squad for the first two Tests against England announced 🔽 
 
Rohit Sharma (C ), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit…
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<h2>India announce squad for England Tests</h2>

With the Tests series set to start in less than two weeks, the BCCI named the Indian squad during the ongoing Afghanistan series. Mohammed Shami will be a notable absentee in the squad as he continues his rehabilitation after a serious injury. He missed the South Africa series where India returned with a 1-1 draw. Shami, who recently received the Arjuna Award in New Delhi has not played for India since the ODI World Cup final.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepals-star-cricketer-sandeep-lamichhane-jailed-for-eight-years-for-rape-678703/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The squad also features the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, with the former named&nbsp;deputy to captain&nbsp;Rohit Sharma. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be the spin options in the squad along with veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as he continues his quest for 500 Test wickets.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/u-19-world-cup-south-africa-captain-david-teeger-removed-from-post-over-pro-israel-remarks-679384">U-19 World Cup: South Africa captain David Teeger sacked over pro-Israel remarks</a>

Batting responsibilities will lie on the shoulders of Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and others. The inclusion of Dhruv Jurel sees him earn his maiden call-up into the squad as India look to get the better of an impressive England side.

The first two Tests will be played in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam before the attention switches to&nbsp;Rajkot for the third Test.

<h2>Squad for first two Tests</h2>

Rohit Sharma (C ), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday (Jan 12) announced a 15-member squad for the first two Test matches against England with the series taking place later this month.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday (Jan 12) announced a 15-member squad for the first two Test matches against England with the series taking place later this month. In a big surprise, Ishan Kishan was dropped from the squad with uncapped Dhruv Jurel getting the nod. KL Rahul and KS Bharat have also been included as wicketkeeper options in the squad for the five-match Test series which starts on Thursday (Jan 25). 🚨 NEWS 🚨#TeamIndia's squad for the first two Tests against England announced 🔽 Rohit Sharma (C ), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit… — BCCI (@BCCI) January 12, 2024 × India announce squad for England Tests With the Tests series set to start in less than two weeks, the BCCI named the Indian squad during the ongoing Afghanistan series. Mohammed Shami will be a notable absentee in the squad as he continues his rehabilitation after a serious injury. He missed the South Africa series where India returned with a 1-1 draw. Shami, who recently received the Arjuna Award in New Delhi has not played for India since the ODI World Cup final. The squad also features the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, with the former named deputy to captain Rohit Sharma. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be the spin options in the squad along with veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as he continues his quest for 500 Test wickets. ALSO READ | U-19 World Cup: South Africa captain David Teeger sacked over pro-Israel remarks Batting responsibilities will lie on the shoulders of Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and others. The inclusion of Dhruv Jurel sees him earn his maiden call-up into the squad as India look to get the better of an impressive England side. The first two Tests will be played in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam before the attention switches to Rajkot for the third Test. Squad for first two Tests Rohit Sharma (C ), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan.

IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma-led Team India include Dhruv Jurel for first two Tests after Ishan Kishan faces axe

Ishan Kishan’s exclusion from the Indian Test squad raised some eyebrows on Friday (Jan 12) evening after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the team for the Test series against England. Ishan, predicted to be the next all-format star of the Indian team was dropped for disciplinary issues according to close sources. However, a day after his exclusion from the first two Test matches, he put up a video on his social media handle where he was seen meditating and doing exercise.

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🏃‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/XjUfL18Ydc">pic.twitter.com/XjUfL18Ydc</a>
— Ishan Kishan (@ishankishan51) <a href="https://twitter.com/ishankishan51/status/1745780386800766994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Ishan back in the headlines</h2>

In a video posted on his social media, Ishan is seen doing breathing and running exercises as he prepares himself for the upcoming challenges. The Mumbai Indians star concentrated deeply on himself and showed positive body language despite being on the hot seat for a few disciplinary reasons. The video also showed that Ishan is completely fine and ready to go once he is called back to the side.

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<h2>What happened with Ishan?</h2>

Having asked for time out from the national side during the Test series against South Africa in December, the BCCI opted to rest the wicketkeeper-batter and drafted KS Bharat into the squad. It was reported that he had asked BCCI for a leave on the grounds of mental fatigue. However, he was later found partying in Dubai. The BCCI officials were not happy with Ishan’s approach and dropped him from the home T20I series against Afghanistan and was also not included in the Test squad for the opening two matches in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.

Head coach Rahul Dravid asserted that Ishan wanted time out from the squad so was not made available for selection. However, lack of discipline has been touted to be the reason behind his exclusion from the squad.

It is worth noting that the left-hand batter has not made himself available for selection for the ongoing Ranji Trophy season with Jharkhand. So as things stand, Ishan if elected, will likely feature in the third Test against England in Rajkot.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/retired-australia-test-opener-david-warner-teases-replacement-steve-smith-during-bbl-match-watch-video-679648">Retired Australia Test opener David Warner TEASES replacement Steve Smith during BBL match | WATCH VIDEO</a>

<h2>Why did Ishan withdraw from the squad in South Africa?</h2>

Although claimed, the 25-year-old’s main reason for withdrawal was lack of opportunities in the Playing XI. Ishan was a secondary choice opener for India in the ODI World Cup in India and was down the pecking order in the Test squad with KL Rahul keeping wickets. He was not happy with his role in the side and opted to give mental fatigue as a reason to pull out and instead travel to UAE. It was reported that Ishan was attending his brother’s birthday party in Dubai and then landed in India.

Ishan Kishan’s exclusion from the Indian Test squad raised some eyebrows on Friday (Jan 12) evening after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the team for the Test series against England.

Ishan Kishan’s exclusion from the Indian Test squad raised some eyebrows on Friday (Jan 12) evening after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the team for the Test series against England. Ishan, predicted to be the next all-format star of the Indian team was dropped for disciplinary issues according to close sources. However, a day after his exclusion from the first two Test matches, he put up a video on his social media handle where he was seen meditating and doing exercise. 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/XjUfL18Ydc — Ishan Kishan (@ishankishan51) January 12, 2024 × Ishan back in the headlines In a video posted on his social media, Ishan is seen doing breathing and running exercises as he prepares himself for the upcoming challenges. The Mumbai Indians star concentrated deeply on himself and showed positive body language despite being on the hot seat for a few disciplinary reasons. The video also showed that Ishan is completely fine and ready to go once he is called back to the side. What happened with Ishan? Having asked for time out from the national side during the Test series against South Africa in December, the BCCI opted to rest the wicketkeeper-batter and drafted KS Bharat into the squad. It was reported that he had asked BCCI for a leave on the grounds of mental fatigue. However, he was later found partying in Dubai. The BCCI officials were not happy with Ishan’s approach and dropped him from the home T20I series against Afghanistan and was also not included in the Test squad for the opening two matches in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. Head coach Rahul Dravid asserted that Ishan wanted time out from the squad so was not made available for selection. However, lack of discipline has been touted to be the reason behind his exclusion from the squad. It is worth noting that the left-hand batter has not made himself available for selection for the ongoing Ranji Trophy season with Jharkhand. So as things stand, Ishan if elected, will likely feature in the third Test against England in Rajkot. ALSO READ | Retired Australia Test opener David Warner TEASES replacement Steve Smith during BBL match | WATCH VIDEO Why did Ishan withdraw from the squad in South Africa? Although claimed, the 25-year-old’s main reason for withdrawal was lack of opportunities in the Playing XI. Ishan was a secondary choice opener for India in the ODI World Cup in India and was down the pecking order in the Test squad with KL Rahul keeping wickets. He was not happy with his role in the side and opted to give mental fatigue as a reason to pull out and instead travel to UAE. It was reported that Ishan was attending his brother’s birthday party in Dubai and then landed in India.

Ishan Kishan shares ‘meditation, exercise’ video after exclusion from England Test series squad - WATCH

India coach Rahul Dravid has clarified that Ishan Kishan wasn't selected for the three-T20I series against Afghanistan because he's on a break while Shreyas Iyer couldn't find a place ahead of others. Dravid made the comments on the eve of the first T20I in Mohali. The India coach refuted rumours of disciplinary action on both the players and clarified that it is not the case. &nbsp;

"No, absolutely not (disciplinary issue)," asserted Dravid at the pre-match press conference. "Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan requested a break, which we agreed on in South Africa. We supported it. He has not yet made himself available. I don't think he has made himself available as yet. When he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-to-miss-indias-first-t20i-against-afghanistan-678675">Virat Kohli to miss India's first T20I against Afghanistan</a>

A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source had told the news agency PTI that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is all but looking beyond Kishan now.

The situation arose after Kishan decided to take a break from the South Africa Tests citing personal reasons, as per the BCCI. A report, however, emerged later in the media that Kishan took a break due to mental fatigue.

Talking about Shreyas Iyer, Dravid confirmed that the batter couldn't make the cut and said: "Certainly, in Shreyas Iyer's case, there is absolutely no disciplinary reason for his non-inclusion. It's just that he missed out. There were a lot of batters in the team,"&nbsp;Dravid confirmed.&nbsp;

"Shreyas missed out, he didn't play the T20Is in South Africa, if you noticed. They are a lot of batters and it's not easy to fit everyone. So, absolutely, there is no disciplinary reasons at all. At least I didn't discuss such things with the selectors," added that India coach.

The three T20Is against Afghanistan are India's last international assignment in the shortest format before the T20 World Cup.

India coach Rahul Dravid has clarified that Ishan Kishan wasn't selected for the three-T20I series against Afghanistan because he's on a break while Shreyas Iyer couldn't find a place ahead of others.

India coach Rahul Dravid has clarified that Ishan Kishan wasn't selected for the three-T20I series against Afghanistan because he's on a break while Shreyas Iyer couldn't find a place ahead of others. Dravid made the comments on the eve of the first T20I in Mohali. The India coach refuted rumours of disciplinary action on both the players and clarified that it is not the case. "No, absolutely not (disciplinary issue)," asserted Dravid at the pre-match press conference. "Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan requested a break, which we agreed on in South Africa. We supported it. He has not yet made himself available. I don't think he has made himself available as yet. When he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection," he added. Also Read: Virat Kohli to miss India's first T20I against Afghanistan A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source had told the news agency PTI that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is all but looking beyond Kishan now. The situation arose after Kishan decided to take a break from the South Africa Tests citing personal reasons, as per the BCCI. A report, however, emerged later in the media that Kishan took a break due to mental fatigue. Talking about Shreyas Iyer, Dravid confirmed that the batter couldn't make the cut and said: "Certainly, in Shreyas Iyer's case, there is absolutely no disciplinary reason for his non-inclusion. It's just that he missed out. There were a lot of batters in the team," Dravid confirmed. "Shreyas missed out, he didn't play the T20Is in South Africa, if you noticed. They are a lot of batters and it's not easy to fit everyone. So, absolutely, there is no disciplinary reasons at all. At least I didn't discuss such things with the selectors," added that India coach. The three T20Is against Afghanistan are India's last international assignment in the shortest format before the T20 World Cup.

India coach refutes rumours of disciplinary action on Kishan, Shreyas after non-inclusion in T20I squad vs AFG

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan might not be a part of the upcoming T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be played in June later this year. Ishan was also not named in the 16-man <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-returns-to-lead-in-afghanistan-t20is-kohli-included-in-16-man-squad-677515">squad for the Afghanistan T20I series</a> at home which begins on January 11. The youngster had recently asked for a break from the two-Test series against South Africa which ended last week.

According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is all but looking beyond Kishan now. The developments were reported by the news agency PTI.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/india-pacer-mohammed-shami-doubtful-for-first-two-tests-in-upcoming-home-series-against-england-677657">India pacer Mohammed Shami doubtful for first two Tests in upcoming home series against England</a>

"Ishan wasn't happy that he was travelling without much game time. He is on a break right now and is vacationing. In any case, selectors are in all likelihood looking beyond Kishan. It will be interesting if he is picked for the England Test series where KS Bharat will be back behind the stumps," a source of the board told PTI.

The situation arose after Kishan decided to take a break from the South Africa Tests citing personal reasons, as per the BCCI. A report, however, emerged later in the media that Kishan took a break due to mental fatigue. He had been with the squad since January 2023 but wasn't getting enough game time. During his time with the squad, Kishan toured the West Indies for the Test, Sri Lanka for Asia Cup and South Africa for the white-ball leg as well. He was also part of the ODI World Cup squad but played just three games.

The three T20Is against Afghanistan are India's last international assignment in the shortest format before the T20 World Cup. Kishan will only have the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season to prove his case to be a part of India's T20 WC squad.

In case Kishan fails to impress the selectors, Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson could get a go-ahead in the shortest format for India, with Rishabh Pant also expected to be back during the IPL.

&nbsp;

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan might not be a part of the upcoming T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be played in June later this year. Ishan was also not named in the 16-man squad for the Afghanistan T20I series at home which begins on January 11.

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan might not be a part of the upcoming T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be played in June later this year. Ishan was also not named in the 16-man squad for the Afghanistan T20I series at home which begins on January 11. The youngster had recently asked for a break from the two-Test series against South Africa which ended last week. According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is all but looking beyond Kishan now. The developments were reported by the news agency PTI. Also Read: India pacer Mohammed Shami doubtful for first two Tests in upcoming home series against England "Ishan wasn't happy that he was travelling without much game time. He is on a break right now and is vacationing. In any case, selectors are in all likelihood looking beyond Kishan. It will be interesting if he is picked for the England Test series where KS Bharat will be back behind the stumps," a source of the board told PTI. The situation arose after Kishan decided to take a break from the South Africa Tests citing personal reasons, as per the BCCI. A report, however, emerged later in the media that Kishan took a break due to mental fatigue. He had been with the squad since January 2023 but wasn't getting enough game time. During his time with the squad, Kishan toured the West Indies for the Test, Sri Lanka for Asia Cup and South Africa for the white-ball leg as well. He was also part of the ODI World Cup squad but played just three games. The three T20Is against Afghanistan are India's last international assignment in the shortest format before the T20 World Cup. Kishan will only have the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season to prove his case to be a part of India's T20 WC squad. In case Kishan fails to impress the selectors, Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson could get a go-ahead in the shortest format for India, with Rishabh Pant also expected to be back during the IPL.

BCCI selectors 'looking beyond' wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan in T20Is, says report

Makeshift gloveman KL Rahul might be the first-choice keeper in the two-match Test series against South Africa&nbsp;starting in Centurion on Boxing Day. Head coach Rahul Dravid addressed the elephant in the room ahead of the first match, saying considering how well he did wicketkeeping duties in white-ball cricket this year, KL is confident of transferring that momentum into Tests.&nbsp;

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Dravid said KL is keen on embracing this new challenge, and upon a lengthy discussion with him, he feels KL Rahul has what it takes to keep wickets in the red-ball format.&nbsp;

In the absence of regular Ishan Kishan, who pulled out at the last minute due to mental fatigue, Rahul is the frontrunner to fill that void.

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"I see it as an exciting challenge and an opportunity for him to certainly do something different," Dravid said.&nbsp;

"With Ishan [Kishan] not being available, the opportunity came up. We have a couple of keepers we can choose from. Rahul is certainly one. We have had this discussion with him, we've discussed this with him.

"You know, he is very confident, he is very keen on giving it a go. We do understand that it's probably something he has not done as often. He has been doing it regularly in 50-over cricket. So that's certainly tough, you know, to play 50 overs and then bat as well in a full day. That can take a lot out of your body," the head coach added.&nbsp;

<h2>Challenge is to see how KL comes out of it</h2>

Although keeping wickets in white-ball cricket is quite different from that in Tests, Dravid feels having the extra option in KL Rahul is always a plus for the team. Rahul admitted he is keen on bestowing this new opportunity on KL to see how he comes out of it.

"It's something that we will see how it goes and how it pans out, but it's really nice to have someone like him and the options that he provides us. Just having his ability with the bat would be something that would be really useful.&nbsp;

"And let's see how he goes with the gloves. I mean, he has kept really well in one-day cricket. So just a question of now transferring that into red-ball cricket for longer," Dravid added.

Meanwhile, regular captain Rohit Sharma, batter Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will return to competitive cricket for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final.

Makeshift gloveman KL Rahul might be the first-choice keeper in the two-match Test series against South Africa starting in Centurion on Boxing Day. Head coach Rahul Dravid addressed the elephant in the room ahead of the first match, saying considering how well he did wicketkeeping duties in white-ball cricket this year, KL is confident of transferring that momentum into Tests.

Makeshift gloveman KL Rahul might be the first-choice keeper in the two-match Test series against South Africa starting in Centurion on Boxing Day. Head coach Rahul Dravid addressed the elephant in the room ahead of the first match, saying considering how well he did wicketkeeping duties in white-ball cricket this year, KL is confident of transferring that momentum into Tests. Speaking to the media on Sunday, Dravid said KL is keen on embracing this new challenge, and upon a lengthy discussion with him, he feels KL Rahul has what it takes to keep wickets in the red-ball format. In the absence of regular Ishan Kishan, who pulled out at the last minute due to mental fatigue, Rahul is the frontrunner to fill that void. ALSO READ: England rope in West Indies great Kieron Pollard in coaching staff for 2024 T20 World Cup "I see it as an exciting challenge and an opportunity for him to certainly do something different," Dravid said. "With Ishan [Kishan] not being available, the opportunity came up. We have a couple of keepers we can choose from. Rahul is certainly one. We have had this discussion with him, we've discussed this with him. "You know, he is very confident, he is very keen on giving it a go. We do understand that it's probably something he has not done as often. He has been doing it regularly in 50-over cricket. So that's certainly tough, you know, to play 50 overs and then bat as well in a full day. That can take a lot out of your body," the head coach added. Challenge is to see how KL comes out of it Although keeping wickets in white-ball cricket is quite different from that in Tests, Dravid feels having the extra option in KL Rahul is always a plus for the team. Rahul admitted he is keen on bestowing this new opportunity on KL to see how he comes out of it. "It's something that we will see how it goes and how it pans out, but it's really nice to have someone like him and the options that he provides us. Just having his ability with the bat would be something that would be really useful. "And let's see how he goes with the gloves. I mean, he has kept really well in one-day cricket. So just a question of now transferring that into red-ball cricket for longer," Dravid added. Meanwhile, regular captain Rohit Sharma, batter Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will return to competitive cricket for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final.

SA v IND: Dravid backs 'white-ball gloveman' KL Rahul to keep wickets in South Africa Tests

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who decided to withdraw from the upcoming Test series against South Africa, is having mental fatigue. Kishan was not included in the two-Test squad and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cited his personal reasons for the exclusion. A report in the media outlet Indian Express, however, says that Kishan decided to take a break due to mental fatigue.

“He informed the team management that he is having mental fatigue and wants a break from cricket for some time. Everyone agreed to it,” said the media outlet, citing a source.

The team management has named KS Bharat as his backup for the series in South Africa which starts on Boxing Day (Dec. 26). Most Recently, the India batter played in the first three ODIs of the five-match series against Australia which took place right after the conclusion of ODI World Cup in November.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bangladesh-bowl-out-kiwis-for-98-runs-in-third-odi-for-maiden-win-in-new-zealand-672743">Bangladesh bowl out Kiwis for 98 runs in third ODI for maiden win in New Zealand</a>

Ishan was, however, part of the three-T20I series against South Africa which followed after the Australia T20Is but newcomer Jitesh Sharma was given a chance ahead of him in all three games. He was not named in the squad for three ODIs which took place after the T20Is.

As for his exclusion from the Tests, BCCI had released a statement which read: “Ishan Kishan has requested the BCCI to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicketkeeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad. The men’s selection committee has named KS Bharat as a replacement.”&nbsp;

Ishan has been with the team throughout this year but haven't gotten a consistent run. He was part of the Boarder-Gavaskar Test series in February-March but served a backup to Bharat. He then played one ODI in the subsequent three-match series against the Aussies before playing the IPL 2023.

Post the T20 tournament, he travelled to England for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final but didn't make it to the playing XI. On the next tour in West Indies, he played all the games which included two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. His next assignment was the Asia Cup before playing just two games in the ODI World Cup. 
&nbsp;

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who decided to withdraw from the upcoming Test series against South Africa, is having mental fatigue. Kishan was not included in the two-Test squad and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cited his personal reasons for the exclusion.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who decided to withdraw from the upcoming Test series against South Africa, is having mental fatigue. Kishan was not included in the two-Test squad and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cited his personal reasons for the exclusion. A report in the media outlet Indian Express, however, says that Kishan decided to take a break due to mental fatigue. “He informed the team management that he is having mental fatigue and wants a break from cricket for some time. Everyone agreed to it,” said the media outlet, citing a source. The team management has named KS Bharat as his backup for the series in South Africa which starts on Boxing Day (Dec. 26). Most Recently, the India batter played in the first three ODIs of the five-match series against Australia which took place right after the conclusion of ODI World Cup in November. Also Read: Bangladesh bowl out Kiwis for 98 runs in third ODI for maiden win in New Zealand Ishan was, however, part of the three-T20I series against South Africa which followed after the Australia T20Is but newcomer Jitesh Sharma was given a chance ahead of him in all three games. He was not named in the squad for three ODIs which took place after the T20Is. As for his exclusion from the Tests, BCCI had released a statement which read: “Ishan Kishan has requested the BCCI to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicketkeeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad. The men’s selection committee has named KS Bharat as a replacement.” Ishan has been with the team throughout this year but haven't gotten a consistent run. He was part of the Boarder-Gavaskar Test series in February-March but served a backup to Bharat. He then played one ODI in the subsequent three-match series against the Aussies before playing the IPL 2023. Post the T20 tournament, he travelled to England for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final but didn't make it to the playing XI. On the next tour in West Indies, he played all the games which included two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. His next assignment was the Asia Cup before playing just two games in the ODI World Cup.

'Mental fatigue' prompts India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan to skip South Africa Tests - Report

India’s Ishan Kishan will miss the upcoming Test series against South Africa after withdrawing due to personal reasons. Ishan, earlier set to play a key role for India against South Africa, made his Test debut during the West Indies tour in July. However, he will now have to wait until the England series in February to make his Test return. As replacement, KS Bharat has been handed a reprieve as he returns to the side having missed the West Indies series.

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🚨 UPDATE 🚨: Ishan Kishan withdrawn from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>’s Test squad. KS Bharat named as replacement. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAvIND</a> 
 
Details 🔽<a href="https://t.co/KqldTEeD0T">https://t.co/KqldTEeD0T</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1736334854508482983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Ishan withdraws from Test squad</h2>

On Sunday (Dec 17), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on its social media handle that Ishan won’t be available for the red-ball series. The BCCI did not mention the reason for Ishan’s withdrawal from the squad, but it is understood he is not injured and took the decision for a personal reason. Bharat will have another turn to impress the selectors as he will now travel to South Africa to replace the Mumbai Indians batter.

“Mr Ishan Kishan has requested the BCCI to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicket-keeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad,” a statement on the BCCI website read.

“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Mr KS Bharat as a replacement,” the statement added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kane-williamson-returns-to-lead-new-zealand-against-bangladesh-in-home-t20is-670503">Kane Williamson returns to lead New Zealand against Bangladesh for home T20Is</a>

Ishan’s withdrawal from the squad also means KL Rahul will be the frontrunner to keep wickets during the Test series. Rahul on Saturday had quoted that he is ready to keep the wickets in the Test format and bat in the middle-order. While Bharat’s experience will be a key factor, Rahul will be expected to be the man with the gloves during the two-match Test series which starts on Boxing Day (26th December).

India’s squad for Tests:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (C),&nbsp;Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk).

India’s Ishan Kishan will miss the upcoming Test series against South Africa after withdrawing due to personal reasons. Ishan, earlier set to play a key role for India against South Africa, made his Test debut during the West Indies tour in July.

India’s Ishan Kishan will miss the upcoming Test series against South Africa after withdrawing due to personal reasons. Ishan, earlier set to play a key role for India against South Africa, made his Test debut during the West Indies tour in July. However, he will now have to wait until the England series in February to make his Test return. As replacement, KS Bharat has been handed a reprieve as he returns to the side having missed the West Indies series. 🚨 UPDATE 🚨: Ishan Kishan withdrawn from #TeamIndia’s Test squad. KS Bharat named as replacement. #SAvIND Details 🔽https://t.co/KqldTEeD0T — BCCI (@BCCI) December 17, 2023 × Ishan withdraws from Test squad On Sunday (Dec 17), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on its social media handle that Ishan won’t be available for the red-ball series. The BCCI did not mention the reason for Ishan’s withdrawal from the squad, but it is understood he is not injured and took the decision for a personal reason. Bharat will have another turn to impress the selectors as he will now travel to South Africa to replace the Mumbai Indians batter. “Mr Ishan Kishan has requested the BCCI to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicket-keeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad,” a statement on the BCCI website read. “The Men’s Selection Committee has named Mr KS Bharat as a replacement,” the statement added. ALSO READ | Kane Williamson returns to lead New Zealand against Bangladesh for home T20Is Ishan’s withdrawal from the squad also means KL Rahul will be the frontrunner to keep wickets during the Test series. Rahul on Saturday had quoted that he is ready to keep the wickets in the Test format and bat in the middle-order. While Bharat’s experience will be a key factor, Rahul will be expected to be the man with the gloves during the two-match Test series which starts on Boxing Day (26th December). India’s squad for Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk).

SA vs IND: Ishan Kishan withdraws from Test squad due to personal reasons; KS Bharat roped in as replacement

The 2024 T20 World Cup is a mere seven months away, and the BCCI and its selection committee are busy pulling their socks up to put forward the best squad for the marquee event. While the onus would again be on picking the right team for the format, the selection committee is said to have bigger problems to deal with, and Virat Kohli's selection for the marquee event is one of them.

Following the 2022 T20 World Cup semis loss at the hands of England, India's T20I side underwent gigantic changes. While several seniors decided against playing the T20Is in the past year for reasons known to them, the selectors went all out in picking and backing youngsters for the 20-team tournament next year.

Considering the packed FTP schedule, India will play only six T20Is (thus far) in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup - three against South Africa, starting on Sunday (Dec 10) and as many against Afghanistan at home early next year. With Rohit and Virat requesting to skip the white-ball leg, the BCCI selectors have just a handful of matches to finalise a tentative 15 for the tournament, scheduled in the West Indies and the USA in June 2024.

As per the latest reports, the BCCI office bearers, including Secretary Jay Shah, Vice President Rajeev Shukla and Treasurer Ashish Shelar, alongside the selectors, have zeroed in on Rohit and Bumrah as sure-starters, with veteran batter set to continue leading India in the shortest format at least until then.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shami-among-world-cup-heroes-nominated-for-iccs-mens-player-of-the-month-award-for-november-667259">Shami among World Cup heroes nominated for ICC's Men's Player of the Month award for November</a>

However, the selection committee is said to meet India's most prolific run-scorer in the past decade to discuss his plans, particularly in the shortest format.&nbsp;

Sources close to the information have told Dainik Jagran that the board is keen on playing Ishan Kishan ahead of Virat Kohli at number three in next year's T20 World Cup.

The reason behind such a call is the inclusion of someone who comes in and starts whacking from the ball one - something Virat is not particularly known for.

<h2>New-look batting line-up for T20 WC</h2>

In the absence of stand-in captain Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar led India in the recently concluded Australia T20Is, helping his team stand tall with a 4-1 lead.&nbsp;

With almost everything in the air considering preparations for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the BCCI are committed to backing a younger and inexperienced squad, with several newcomers in line waiting to punch their maiden World Cup ticket.

Outside of the regulars like Rohit, Gill, Kishan, Pandya and Bumrah, the selectors will monitor the progress of emerging players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ravi Bishnoi and&nbsp;Yashasvi Jaiswal, among others.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in the three-match SA T20Is, while seasoned batter KL Rahul will&nbsp;captain in the ODIs.&nbsp;

The 2024 T20 World Cup is a mere seven months away, and the BCCI and its selection committee are busy pulling their socks up to put forward the best squad for the marquee event.

The 2024 T20 World Cup is a mere seven months away, and the BCCI and its selection committee are busy pulling their socks up to put forward the best squad for the marquee event. While the onus would again be on picking the right team for the format, the selection committee is said to have bigger problems to deal with, and Virat Kohli's selection for the marquee event is one of them. Following the 2022 T20 World Cup semis loss at the hands of England, India's T20I side underwent gigantic changes. While several seniors decided against playing the T20Is in the past year for reasons known to them, the selectors went all out in picking and backing youngsters for the 20-team tournament next year. Considering the packed FTP schedule, India will play only six T20Is (thus far) in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup - three against South Africa, starting on Sunday (Dec 10) and as many against Afghanistan at home early next year. With Rohit and Virat requesting to skip the white-ball leg, the BCCI selectors have just a handful of matches to finalise a tentative 15 for the tournament, scheduled in the West Indies and the USA in June 2024. As per the latest reports, the BCCI office bearers, including Secretary Jay Shah, Vice President Rajeev Shukla and Treasurer Ashish Shelar, alongside the selectors, have zeroed in on Rohit and Bumrah as sure-starters, with veteran batter set to continue leading India in the shortest format at least until then. ALSO READ: Shami among World Cup heroes nominated for ICC's Men's Player of the Month award for November However, the selection committee is said to meet India's most prolific run-scorer in the past decade to discuss his plans, particularly in the shortest format. Sources close to the information have told Dainik Jagran that the board is keen on playing Ishan Kishan ahead of Virat Kohli at number three in next year's T20 World Cup. The reason behind such a call is the inclusion of someone who comes in and starts whacking from the ball one - something Virat is not particularly known for. New-look batting line-up for T20 WC In the absence of stand-in captain Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar led India in the recently concluded Australia T20Is, helping his team stand tall with a 4-1 lead. With almost everything in the air considering preparations for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the BCCI are committed to backing a younger and inexperienced squad, with several newcomers in line waiting to punch their maiden World Cup ticket. Outside of the regulars like Rohit, Gill, Kishan, Pandya and Bumrah, the selectors will monitor the progress of emerging players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ravi Bishnoi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, among others. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in the three-match SA T20Is, while seasoned batter KL Rahul will captain in the ODIs.

Selectors keen on playing Ishan Kishan ahead of Virat Kohli at number 3 in 2024 T20 World Cup - Reports

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