Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan did not get yearly contracts from the Indian cricket board because they chose not to play for the national team. Kishan took a break for personal reasons during the South Africa tour and only recently started playing again in the DY Patil T20 tournament. Iyer, despite being said to be fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA), did not join the ongoing Test series or play for Mumbai afterward.
Jay shah had written a letter to warned the players of “severe implications”
The cricket board stressed that players should give importance to playing in local matches when not playing for the national team. This came after a letter from the board’s secretary, Jay Shah, warned players not to prioritize the Indian Premier League (IPL) over local and national duties.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, said that players should show interest in Test cricket, and good performances in local cricket would be considered for future selections. Kishan was not picked for Tests against England, and Coach Rahul Dravid mentioned that he needed to play in local matches to come back. In Kishan’s absence, Dhruv Jurel made his debut and did well.
Iyer’s absence was due to a disagreement with the NCA’s fitness assessment. Although he had back discomfort, the medical staff cleared him after the second Test. However, when he missed subsequent Tests and a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai, it was reported as back spasms.
Reports: The selectors were unhappy with Ishan training with his IPL captain Hardik Pandya during break
The selectors, who recommend contracts, were reportedly unhappy with Kishan training with his IPL captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda during his break. Iyer was also at Kolkata Knight Riders’ pre-season camp instead of playing for Mumbai, causing dissatisfaction. The BCCI official mentioned that the players’ ability is not doubted, but if they are fit according to the NCA and don’t play in Tests, they cannot get a contract.
The BCCI’s decision might be a result of the warning in Shah’s letter about “severe implications” for players choosing the IPL over local cricket. The Board seems to be making it clear that Iyer and Kishan could be considered for contracts after the IPL if they meet the criteria.
Both Iyer and Kishan are known for their skills, with India even waiting until the last moment before the ODI World Cup to give Iyer a chance to recover. Kishan, who has scored big in ODIs, was India’s Test wicketkeeper when Pant was absent. However, the selectors were not pleased with Kishan focusing on the IPL over local cricket and Iyer’s absence despite being declared fit.
