The recent exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the BCCI’s central contract list is being interpreted as a clear statement from the national cricketing body regarding the significance of domestic cricket. Both players missed their respective state’s Ranji Trophy matches for various reasons, leading to their omission from the contract list. Former Indian cricket team captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly weighed in on the matter, emphasizing the importance of guiding young players like Ishan Kishan.
Ganguly stated, “For someone like Ishan Kishan, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, president Roger Binny, and the selectors need to have a conversation with him. Despite playing Ranji and white-ball cricket, it hasn’t made him a poorer player.”
He further highlighted the commitment of players picked for Delhi Capitals, mentioning their participation in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy. Ganguly stressed that red-ball cricket cannot be ignored and implied that appropriate actions would be taken by the BCCI.
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In response, Jay Shah clarified that the new rule applies uniformly to all cricketers not in the national team, including Ishan Kishan. He emphasized the importance of playing red-ball cricket, stating, “No tantrums. Everyone will have to play, or else the selection committee will make the decisions.”
Shah assured that contracted players had been informed verbally and would receive written communication. He reiterated his support for the selection committee’s autonomy in making decisions regarding player participation in domestic cricket.
