Team India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan did not turn out for Jharkhand against Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy 2024 final round match in Jamshedpur which began on Friday, February 16. Deepak Chahar and Shreyas Iyer also did not turn out for their respective domestic teams.
Recently, BCCI secretary Jay Shah made it clear that centrally contracted players need to play domestic cricket if they are fit. The statement came amid news of Kishan skipping the Ranji Trophy 2024 and instead practicing in Baroda with new Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya.
Kishan, Iyer and Chahar were specifically told to represent their respective domestic teams in first-class cricket. Of the three, Iyer is said to be struggling with lower back and groin issues.
At a recent function in Rajkot ahead of the third India vs England Test, BCCI secretary Shah had shared his views on players skipping crucial domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.
“If you are fit then no excuse will be entertained. This applies to all centrally contracted players, they have to play. The player cannot decide his future, the selectors need to decide that. If the player is good in red-ball, he has to play,” Shah commented at the function.
