“He will have to…”: Jay Shah’s blunt message to Ishan Kishan

India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, on Wednesday, was named among the 61 players for the upcoming round of the 2024 Duleep Trophy. This move by BCCI’s selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, sparked discussions on Ishan’s possible return to the Indian squad with the domestic red-ball tournament.

The domestic tournament will have a big impact on the Indian team’s selection for the upcoming 2-match Bangladesh Test series.

Kishan has not been a part of the Indian squad since December 2023, when he took a mental-health break before the Test series in South Africa. He was then denied of a central contract by BCCI in February after he didn’t make himself available for the domestic tournaments when he wasn’t on national duty.

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The wicketkeeper-batter is currently in action in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, a domestic pre-season red-ball tournament, where he is leading the Jharkhand Cricket Association.

Kishan was also not considered either for the T20 World Cup or any of the 3 white-ball series that the Indian team played after the tournament. However, after being reportedly counselled by BCCI, Ishan made himself available for the impending domestic season. If he ends up doing well in both the Buchi Babu and Duleep Trophy tournaments, then he might even be able to make a return to the Indian side for the Bangladesh Tests.

Ahead of the rumours of is return, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah sent a blunt message to Kishan saying, “He will have to follow the rules. He will have to play domestic cricket.”