Indian cricketers Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are set to be dropped from the upcoming 2023-24 BCCI Central Contracts list. The move comes after both players failed to participate in the Ranji Trophy 2024, despite the BCCI's directive for players to compete in the domestic red-ball tournament.
Kishan's Absence Raises Eyebrows
Ishan Kishan, who has been out of action since withdrawing from the ODI and Test series against South Africa due to mental fatigue, opted out of Jharkhand's final Ranji Trophy fixture against Rajasthan. Instead, the 25-year-old chose to train for IPL 2024 with the Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal, at the Kiran More Academy in Baroda. Despite reports that Kishan informed head coach Rahul Dravid that he was focusing on his fitness, his decision has not been well-received by the BCCI.
Iyer's Injury Controversy
On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer's absence from the Ranji Trophy has sparked controversy. After being dropped from Team India following inconsistent performances in the Test series against England, Iyer was reportedly advised by selectors to play in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Baroda. However, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) stated that Iyer was ruled out of the knockout due to back spasms.
Contradictory Reports on Iyer's Fitness
Contradictory reports have emerged regarding Iyer's fitness. While the MCA cited back spasms as the reason for his absence, a source claims that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) emailed the BCCI, stating that Iyer was 'fit to play' with 'no fresh injuries' after the second Test against England. The source also mentioned that Iyer had been dealing with back pain since that time. A source close to Iyer clarified that he was excluded from the Test squad as a precautionary measure due to his back issues.
BCCI's Response
The BCCI has taken a firm stance on players' participation in domestic cricket, especially the Ranji Trophy. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah had previously warned all centrally contracted players to participate in the Ranji Trophy. The board is reportedly finalizing the list of centrally contracted players for the upcoming season, and it is expected that both Iyer and Kishan will be excluded from the list due to their non-participation in domestic cricket.
The exclusion of Iyer and Kishan from the central contracts list could have financial implications for the players. In the previous round of contracts, Kishan was placed in Category C and earned Rs 1 crore, while Iyer was placed in Category B and earned Rs 3 crore. The final decision on their contracts is expected to be announced after the conclusion of the ongoing Test series against England.
(Image Source: X)
© Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
