BCCI secretary Jay Shah suggested that Indian players with central contracts should participate in domestic cricket to increase their chances of selection for the national team. Shah expressed satisfaction with the Indian Premier League’s success but emphasized that the board didn’t expect players to prioritize domestic cricket over the IPL.
Jay Shah Warns Players For Skipping Domestic Cricket
In the letter addressed to players as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, Jay Shah wrote:
“However, there is a trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport,”
Further, Jay Shah reiterated that the board has always maintained a clear vision: aspiring Indian players should prioritize domestic cricket if they aim to represent the national team. He wrote:
“It is essential to recognise that domestic cricket forms the backbone of Indian cricket and serves as the feeder line to Team India. Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset – every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic tournaments remains a critical yardstick for selection, and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications,”
This letter is for Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and Deepak Chahar, who have been absent from India’s squads for various reasons. Iyer holds a Grade B BCCI contract, Kishan has a Grade C contract, while Chahar was not included in the recent contract renewals.
Ishan last played for India in a T20I against Australia in Guwahati but failed to secure a spot in the playing eleven afterward. He was in the T20I squad in South Africa but didn’t play any matches. Similarly, Iyer was dropped from the Test squad after the first two matches against England, where he scored only 35 runs. Chahar withdrew from the final T20I against Australia and the South Africa tour due to his father’s illness, and his availability for selection is uncertain.
