Ishan Kishan, the talented Indian wicket-keeper batsman, is grappling with a significant dilemma concerning his inclusion in the national team.
Kishan has been on the sidelines since November 2023, and last played his match in the 5-match T20I series against Australia right after the Cricket World Cup final.
Accompanying the Indian team to South Africa for a month-long tour, Ishan Kishan participated in the 3 T20Is and ODIs. The tour concluded with a 2-match Test series, where a full-strength squad, including senior players, was fielded.
Despite India’s satisfactory performance in South Africa, undisclosed aspects escaped public attention. Notably, Ishan Kishan approached the Indian management, requesting a break to rejuvenate himself and address a decline in his mental well-being. This dip in his mental state was attributed to being consistently sidelined throughout the year 2023.
Before the T20I series against Afghanistan, Coach Rahul Dravid took it upon himself to dismiss any unfounded rumors, affirming that there are no disciplinary concerns surrounding Ishan Kishan. Dravid clarified that Kishan’s absence from the squad was a result of the player’s request for a break rather than any performance-related issues.
“Absolutely no disciplinary issue. Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan requested a break, which we agreed in South Africa. We supported it. He has not yet made himself available. When he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection.” – Dravid said in the pre-match conference.
Despite consistently delivering solid performances, Ishan Kishan has often been overshadowed by players like KL Rahul and, more recently, Jitesh Sharma. Notably, Kishan’s wicket-keeping skills surpass Rahul’s, a crucial asset for India, especially as they gear up for a challenging 5-match Test series against England starting January 25.
During the South Africa series, Kishan took leave and reportedly flew to Dubai to celebrate his brother’s birthday. This move drew the ire of the BCCI, which raised questions about his commitment and discipline. The situation escalated when Kishan was subsequently left out of the Afghanistan series.
Adding fuel to the fire, recent reports suggest that Ishan Kishan is not participating in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, where he represents Jharkhand. This raises further concerns about his availability and commitment to domestic cricket.
Debashish Chakraborty who is the secretary of JSCA stated, “No, Ishan Kishan has not contacted or told us anything about his availability. Whenever he tells us, he will walk into the playing XI.”
