The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India (Senior Men) for the 2023-24 season. Notably, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not included in the list. The BCCI stated that they were not considered for the contracts in this round of recommendations.
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer Excluded From BCCI Central Contracts
Ishan Kishan and Iyer lost their BCCI Central Contracts for the 2023-24 period, meaning they won’t officially be part of the Indian Cricket Team. However, they can still play for India, but won’t have a contract and will only receive match fees.
Ishan Kishan and Iyer were removed from their BCCI Central Contracts. Despite requests from Rahul Dravid and Jay Shah to participate in domestic cricket, the duo chose not to do so.
“Please note that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations,” read the BCCI statement.
“The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team,” the BCCI statement further added.
As Ishan Kishan and Iyer do not currently hold central contracts, their prospects for the ICC T20 World Cup are significantly diminished. It is unlikely that they will be considered for the India Squad. Even if they perform admirably in IPL 2024, their chances remain slim.
How Can Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan Still Play for Team India?
If Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer wish to represent India, they can only do so if they receive a call-up to the national team. Even if they fulfill the pro-rata requirements, they will still not be eligible for a BCCI Central Contract.
To meet the pro-rata criteria, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer must play either 10 T20I matches, 8 ODI matches, or 3 Test matches for the Indian cricket team.
