Amid a whirlwind of controversy surrounding his BCCI contract omission, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has received an unexpected vote of confidence from West Indies legend and Chennai Super Kings great Dwayne Bravo.
Ishan Kishan talent undisputed:
Despite being excluded from the BCCI’s annual player contracts due to his reported prioritization of the IPL over domestic cricket, Ishan Kishan talent remains undeniable. This was recently highlighted by Dwayne Bravo, who shared a picture on Instagram with Ishan Kishan and another star cricketer, Nicholas Pooran, captioning it, “Two of the most gifted players around.”
Dwayne Bravo is currently the CSK bowling coach.
BCCI stance on domestic cricket:
The BCCI’s decision to exclude Kishan and fellow player Shreyas Iyer was a clear message emphasizing the importance of participating in domestic cricket. Both players were absent from their respective Ranji Trophy matches, raising questions about their commitment to the domestic circuit.
Iyer and Kishan’s Choices
Iyer, after being dropped from the national team, opted out of two Ranji Trophy matches citing back problems, which were later disputed by the National Cricket Academy’s medical team. Similarly, Kishan missed Ranji Trophy matches due to “personal reasons” after being dropped from the Indian Test team in South Africa.
Financial Implications and Franchise Support:
While the contract exclusion might not significantly impact their finances due to their lucrative IPL contracts, it signifies the BCCI’s serious stance against neglecting domestic cricket.
A senior BCCI official revealed that the board has also discussed the issue with franchises, who reportedly agree that the players made a mistake in prioritizing the IPL.
Kishan Returns to Action, Iyer Plays Ranji Semi-final:
Kishan has since returned to the field in the D Y Patil T20 tournament, showcasing his commitment to playing. Iyer, on the other hand, will be seen in action for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu, potentially demonstrating his dedication to domestic cricket.
This situation highlights the ongoing debate between prioritizing lucrative IPL contracts and contributing to domestic cricket, which remains crucial for developing and nurturing cricketing talent in India.
