'Just to penalize Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer is not correct' - Kirti Azad slams BCCI for contract axing 

Former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad supported the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to prioritize domestic cricket for players. Kirti Azad stated that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should also participate in India’s domestic cricket tournaments.

The BCCI omitted young cricketers Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from its latest central contracts list for 2023-24. Both players faced criticism for their absence from the 2024 Ranji Trophy. They didn’t represent their state teams in the Ranji Trophy despite BCCI’s warning.

Last year, Shreyas was placed in Grade B, while Kishan held a Grade C contract. Kishan had withdrawn from the Test squad for the South Africa series, leading to his exclusion from the England series. Iyer was dropped from the squad after the second Test match.

Shreyas Iyer And Ishan Kishan Were Not Considered – BCCI

The BCCI clarified in a statement that Shreyas and Ishan, previously categorized in Grades B and C respectively, were excluded from the latest round of annual contracts. They emphasized that both players were not considered for contracts.

“Please note that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations. The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team,” BCCI said in a statement.

Everybody Should Be Playing Ranji Trophy Cricket – Kirti Azad

Speaking to PTI, Kirti Azad expressed his support for the BCCI’s directive, highlighting the importance of domestic cricket even for top players.

“It (directive) is a very good move. Everybody should be playing Ranji Trophy cricket, but currently, the emphasis is on the IPL. It is good, and it is entertaining but the real cricket is the (five) days’ cricket. Playing in domestic cricket is good, it keeps you in touch.

Since his Test debut, Virat Kohli has participated in only one Ranji game in 2021, indicating a minimal presence in domestic cricket. Similarly, Rohit Sharma’s last appearance in a domestic red ball tournament dates back to 2015.

Everybody Should Be Penalized – Kirti Azad

Kirti Azad criticized the selective punishment of only Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. He emphasized that all players should be held to the same standard of accountability.

“Just to penalize the two is not correct, I think everybody should be penalized. Everybody should be seen with the same mirror,” Azad added.

Ishan Kishan is gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, training alongside the Pandya brothers in Baroda. Additionally, the left-handed batter is actively participating in the DY Patil T20 Tournament in Navi Mumbai as part of his preparation.

Shreyas Iyer has reportedly indicated his availability for Mumbai’s upcoming Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu. However, the right-handed batter’s decision might come too late, raising questions about its effectiveness in influencing his contract status.

Also read: “You have to play…” – Pragyan Ojha reveals how Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer can make comeback in the Indian team