The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named a young squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting July 6th. This series offers a chance to see some fresh faces, but the continued absence of a few notable players has raised eyebrows.
Fresh faces get shot for India vs Zimbabwe T20 series
Led by young opener Shubman Gill, the squad features players who haven’t been regulars in the Indian T20I setup.
This provides a valuable opportunity for them to showcase their talent and potentially stake a claim for bigger challenges ahead. Notably, the entire T20 World Cup-winning squad has been rested, with some joining the Zimbabwe tour for the final two matches.
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Ishan Kishan: Forgotten Man?
However, a glaring omission is wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan. Until mid-2023, he was seen as a future prospect for the T20I format.
However, after the 2023 ODI World Cup, his appearances dwindled. Despite impressive performances against Australia, he fell behind in the pecking order and missed out on both the T20 World Cup and now the Zimbabwe tour.
BCCI Dispute and Fallen Favor for Ishan Kishan
Ishan’s absence seems to stem from a dispute with the BCCI. After a mental health break, he skipped domestic cricket appearances as requested by the board. This reportedly angered BCCI officials, and he was subsequently overlooked for major selections.
Other notable omissions by BCCI
While Ishan’s situation is the most talked about, several other established players are missing from the squad. This includes in-form batsman Shreyas Iyer, who recently led the Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title win, as well as his teammate and spin king Varun Chakaravarthy. Young pace sensations like Umran Malik and Mayank Yadav were also not considered, despite their impressive IPL performances.
The upcoming series against Zimbabwe will be a platform for new talents to shine. However, the continued absence of some established players, particularly Ishan Kishan, leaves questions unanswered about their future with the Indian team.
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