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| Ishan Kishan Breaks Silence on Being Dropped from Indian Team and Not Playing Ranji Trophy |
Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan opens up about his absence from international cricket and his decision not to play in the Ranji Trophy, which led to his exclusion from the BCCI central contract.
Detailed Overview:
Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has broken his silence on taking a break from international cricket. Ishan last played for India in the five-match T20 series against Australia in November. He was also selected for the South Africa tour but decided to withdraw from the Test series citing personal reasons. Following his break, Ishan did not participate in Ranji Trophy matches, leading to his exclusion from the BCCI central contract. However, Ishan has now addressed these questions.
Coach Dravid's Advice:
Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid had stated that for Ishan Kishan to make a return to the national team, he needed to perform well in domestic matches. Despite this, Ishan faced criticism for not playing in domestic games. Ishan revealed that he was not in the right mental state to play in the Ranji Trophy.
Ishan's Statement:
"I took a break and I felt it was normal. The rule is that if you want to return to the team, you need to perform in domestic cricket. It’s normal. For me, playing domestic cricket felt very different because it didn’t make sense at the time. I was not in the mental state to play, which is why I took a break from international cricket. It doesn’t make sense to take a break from international cricket and then play domestic matches. In that case, you might as well play international cricket."
Disappointment and Performance:
Ishan also admitted his frustration over not getting enough playing time in the Indian team despite performing well. He said, "It was disappointing. I don't want to say everything was fine; it was not easy for me at all. You endure a lot. I kept thinking about what happened and why it happened to me, especially when I was performing well."
Return Through IPL:
After missing the South Africa tour and Ranji Trophy, Ishan made his return through IPL 2024. He scored 320 runs in 14 matches with a strike rate of 148.83 and an average of 22.85. Despite this, Ishan was not selected for the recently concluded T20 World Cup hosted by the USA and West Indies. The team management chose Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as wicketkeepers for the global tournament. Additionally, Ishan was not picked for the ongoing five-match T20 series
