Indian head coach Rahul Dravid finally opened up about the future of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan in the Indian cricket team after the fifth and the last Test match against England. Rahul Dravid clarified that while he doesn’t have the authority to decide on player contracts, he emphasized that the doors for a comeback remain open for all players.
For the unversed, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, despite being key players in the Indian batting lineup, missed out on BCCI contracts due to their decision not to participate in domestic cricket.
Rahul Dravid Finally Opens Up About The Future Of Shreyas Iyer And Ishan Kishan
Both Iyer and Kishan found themselves at the receiving end of criticism for ignoring the BCCI’s advice regarding participating in the Ranji Trophy. Shreyas Iyer was dropped from the Indian squad after the first two Tests against England due to back pain. However, a report from the National Cricket Academy revealed no medical issues. He was later seen attending Kolkata Knight Riders’ pre-season camp, leading to his contract termination by the BCCI.
Similarly, Ishan Kishan withdrew from the South Africa Test series citing mental fatigue but was seen at social events. Despite being asked to play in the Ranji Trophy, he trained for the IPL with the Pandya brothers, resulting in him being excluded from the contract list by the BCCI.
Rahul Dravid addressed inquiries about the future of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, expressing that both batters are still in consideration. He emphasized the importance of their fitness and performance, suggesting that they need to prove themselves to the selectors. Speaking to reporters, Dravid said:
“I don’t decide contracts or discuss that. I don’t even know what the criteria is. Both are in the mix and hope they play cricket, stay fit and force the selectors to pick them. No one is out of contention, players without contracts have also played.”
Furthermore, Rahul Dravid emphasized that he and captain Rohit Sharma focus solely on selecting the playing 11 based on performance, irrespective of players’ contracts. He emphasized that all players are considered for selection but highlighted the importance of how well they manage their physical condition. He added:
“Rohit and I select playing 11. Sometimes even I don’t know who is contracted and who is not. No one is out of the mix. We need to hear the players. They are the ones putting bodies on the line. If they are saying, we need to see how to manage the domestic schedule better.”
India clinched the Test series against England with a resounding 4-1 victory. Now, all the players are gearing up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, scheduled to commence on March 22nd.
