Cricket News

‘They are talented cricketers..’ – Former India World Cup winner comments on Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer’s central contract snub

The former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan pondered whether players like Hardik Pandya, who have focused on limited-overs cricket, should be required to participate in domestic white-ball competitions when not representing the national team. Irfan’s remarks followed the decision by the India Cricket Board to revoke the contracts of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer due to their absence from the senior national team and their failure to participate in red-ball domestic cricket this season.

Earlier on Wednesday, the board announced that both Ishan and Shreyas, who held C and B grade contracts last year respectively, were excluded from annual retainership for the 2023-24 season. A total of 30 cricketers were granted central contracts on Thursday, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah retaining contracts in the top bracket (A+). Despite not having played for India since sustaining an injury in a World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh, Hardik Pandya retained his contract in the A category, just one level below the top bracket.

“They are talented cricketers, both Shreyas and Ishan. Hoping they bounce back and come back stronger. If players like Hardik don’t want to play red ball cricket, should he and others like him participate in white-ball domestic cricket when they aren’t on national duty? If this doesn’t apply to all, then Indian cricket won’t achieve the desired results,” Irfan Pathan wrote on Twitter.

They are talented cricketers, both Shreyas and Ishan. Hoping they bounce back and come back stronger. If players like Hardik don’t want to play red ball cricket, should he and others like him participate in white-ball domestic cricket when they aren’t on national duty? If this…

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 29, 2024

 

Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have resumed to play cricket

Ishan Kishan made his return to competitive cricket for the first time since November 2023 at the ongoing DY Patil T20 Cup in Pune earlier this week. The wicketkeeper-batter took a hiatus due to personal reasons during the South Africa tour, withdrawing from a Test series in December-January. Despite not being in consideration for selection following his break, the Jharkhand player opted out of the entire season of the Ranji Trophy, despite Board Secretary Jay Shah urging players vying for national team spots to participate in the prestigious red-ball tournament.

On the contrary, Shreyas Iyer who scored over 500 runs for India at the ODI World Cup last year, featured in a Ranji Trophy match before the commencement of the Test series against England and played the first two Tests before being excluded for the remainder of the series. The decision to revoke Shreyas’ contract has sparked debate among fans, with some arguing that the Mumbai batter chose to undergo surgery and skipped IPL 2023 to regain fitness in time for the ODI World Cup.

Additionally, Iyer was appointed as India’s vice-captain for the second leg of a T20I series at home. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya has not played Test cricket since September 2018, and the Baroda all-rounder has stated that his injury-prone body prevents him from considering the longest format of the game.