Published: Feb 29, 2024, 11:32 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 29, 2024, 11:32 AM (IST)
After abstaining from domestic matches, prominent Indian cricketers Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer faced exclusion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Annual Central Contracts. The BCCI’s official statement affirmed that Kishan and Iyer were not included in the roster of players selected for central contracts, which were finalized for the period spanning from October 1st, 2023, to September 30th, 2024. Kishan opted out of the South Africa tour midway, citing fatigue, and subsequently was not chosen for the Afghanistan T20Is or the ongoing Test series against England. Despite India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, encouraging Kishan to participate in the Ranji Trophy, the player disregarded the advice. Instead, he skipped Jharkhand’s Ranji games and was spotted training with Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya in Baroda ahead of the forthcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
On the other hand, Iyer featured in two Tests against England but was left out of the squad for the subsequent three matches. He informed his domestic team, Mumbai, that he was suffering from back pain, a claim refuted by the National Cricket Academy’s (NCA) head of sports science, Nitin Patel.
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The question now looms: what lies ahead for Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer? Despite being denied central contracts, can they still represent India? The answer is affirmative. The selection of players for the Indian team is contingent upon fitness and current form. Even those players who are not centrally contracted can be considered for national selection. For instance, Trent Boult, the New Zealand pacer, opted out of a central contract last year but continued to represent the Blackcaps during the World Cup and other events.
The roster of players who have lost their contracts includes notable names such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal, all of whom have fallen out of favor with the selectors. While this development signifies the culmination of the road for players like Pujara, the 33-year-old Chahal still possesses the opportunity to make a case for himself by participating in more matches.
Furthermore, the selection committee has recommended fast bowling contracts for Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Vidwath Kaverappa. This contractual system has been in place since the 2021-22 season, but it is noteworthy that this is the first time the BCCI has officially disclosed the names of the selected players.
Akash Deep, in particular, made a notable impression on his debut in the recent fourth Test against England, a match India won to clinch the series. Consequently, he, alongside four other pacers, has been recommended for a fast bowling contract by the selection committee.
In summary, the exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contracts by the BCCI does not preclude them from representing India. Their future selections will be contingent upon their fitness, form, and performance in domestic and international competitions. Additionally, the recommendation of fast bowling contracts for promising talents like Akash Deep signals the BCCI’s commitment to nurturing and rewarding emerging players.
