As reports about Ishan Kishan’s ongoing absence from all forms of cricket grew, it became a serious issue.
The players who are only waiting for the Indian Premier League (IPL) to begin in 2024 without expressing any interest in playing in the Ranji Trophy, which is currently in its final league stage, will face harsh consequences from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Indian team management is reportedly especially enraged with a group of players who, despite being healthy, have expressed a desire not to participate in the home first-class championship, according to a report by the news agency PTI.
As speculation about Ishan Kishan’s ongoing absence from all forms of cricket grew, it became a serious concern. The middle of the South Africa trip saw the India wicketkeeper-batter take a vacation, with reports of mental health weariness being the reason given. Head coach of the team Rahul Dravid emphasized that Ishan must demonstrate some playing time before rejoining the Indian team, implying that he would like to play for Jharkhand in the current Ranji Trophy campaign.However, up until now, the 25-year-old has missed six straight league games. A source close to the BCCI said that he appeared to be preparing for the 2024 Indian Premier League after he was seen practicing in Baroda with Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya.
The BCCI’s decision-makers are cognizant of the fact that certain players are unwilling to participate in red ball cricket. Under the condition of anonymity, a senior BCCI official informed PTI that if they are not part of the Indian team, they will, at most, play a few Mushtaq Ali T20 matches before failing to appear for state team duty during red ball season. “The board will probably require such players to participate in three or four Ranji Trophy matches in order to keep them in check; if they don’t, they won’t be allowed to play in the IPL or even be able to participate in the IPL auction if their team releases them. State units believe that some of the new stars will treat the Ranji Trophy with contempt until they receive an order from the BCCI’s high brass.”
The board representative acknowledged that Hardik’s situation was unique given his protracted battle with a back issue, which has prevented the all-rounder from playing in the red-ball format since 2018. However, he also disclosed that other young players outright decline to take part in the Ranji Trophy.
“We understand Hardik Pandya’s case since his body cannot withstand the rigours of red ball cricket. He can’t handle the workload of Test cricket, and India needs him to be fit for ICC events. However, when you phone some of the other young people, they will say that they are currently undergoing physiotherapy. “There has to be a stop somewhere,” the official explained.
