India and Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan is reportedly set to skip the final round of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 and is expected to make his return to competitive cricket in the DY Patil T20 tournament in Navi Mumbai.
This development comes in the wake of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) advising centrally contracted players to actively participate in the Ranji Trophy. Kishan has been out of action since the Australia T20Is at home. While he was part of the India T20I and Test squad for the South Africa tour, Kishan was benched in the T20Is and subsequently left the tour midway, having been granted a mental health break by the BCCI.
Following his absence, Kishan missed the Afghanistan T20Is at home and was not considered for the ongoing England Test series. Despite the BCCI’s and Indian team management’s directive for him to play in the Ranji Trophy to be considered for the national team, Kishan has not clarified his availability.
Recent reports indicate that the BCCI has issued a mandate for all its players, including Kishan, to represent their state teams in the Ranji Trophy. This directive applies to players not currently part of the India squad, including Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, and Shreyas Iyer.
“Players cannot simply prioritize international cricket or the IPL. They must make themselves available for domestic cricket and honor their commitments to their respective state teams,” a BCCI source was quoted by Cricbuzz.
The BCCI emphasizes that players cannot prioritize international cricket or the IPL over domestic commitments, emphasizing the need for players to make themselves available for domestic competitions. Despite the directive, Kishan’s decision to play for Jharkhand in the final round of the Ranji Trophy remains uncertain, leaving room for speculation about his comeback either in the tournament or in the DY Patil T20 competition.
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