Ishan Kishan's Central Contract cut off again by BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently revealed the central contracts for women's cricketers for the 2024-25 season. According to the latest news reports, the contracts for men's cricketers are expected to be announced this week, with one of the key talking points being Ishan Kishan's status.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan lost their BCCI central contracts last year after skipping domestic matches. The board was displeased with their absence from domestic cricket, which led to their exclusion. Shreyas managed to regain his place in the national cricket team, while Kishan's future remains uncertain.

BCCI to Announce Central Contracts for Men's Cricketers for the 2024-25 Season

According to the Times of India, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will meet head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Guwahati on March 29 to discuss the central contracts. Gambhir, who is currently on vacation in France with his family, will be part of the discussions regarding player contracts.

The report further stated that Shreyas Iyer is likely to reclaim his central contract after being left out last year. However, there is uncertainty regarding Ishan Kishan's place in the upcoming contract list.

“Shreyas is set to regain his contract, and it will be in a top category. However, discussions are still ongoing on whether in Ishan’s case," the report cited a source as saying.

Ishan Kishan Set to Miss Out on BCCI Central Contract

Ishan Kishan’s case is more complicated as per the BCCI's contract eligibility criteria. To qualify for a central contract, male players must play at least three Test matches, eight ODIs, or ten T20Is within a calendar year. However, Kishan has not played any international cricket since late 2023, which is a concern.

Kishan withdrew from an international tour in late 2023, citing travel fatigue. The left-handed batter then trained in Gujarat alongside Hardik and Krunal Pandya rather than playing domestic cricket for Jharkhand. Notably, the wicketkeeper-batter was part of the ODI World Cup squad, where India lost the final.

Ishan Kishan is Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025

Ishan Kishan was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the IPL 2025 auction for a hefty ₹11.25 crore. However, he has not opened the batting for the franchise, as Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are the preferred openers.

Kishan made a dream start to his IPL 2025 campaign with a sensational unbeaten century in his debut match for SRH on March 23 against the Rajasthan Royals. He scored an unbeaten 106 off just 47 deliveries, including 11 fours and six sixes, at a staggering strike rate of 225.53.

However, he failed to open his account in the next match against Lucknow Super Giants. The left-handed batter was dismissed for a golden duck on his very first ball off Shardul Thakur's bowling.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will next play back-to-back away fixtures. Their first away game will be against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, March 30, followed by a clash with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday, April 3.

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