Jay Shah’s direct message to Ishan Kishan as the BCCI’s action ignites optimism for India’s comeback

Ishan Kishan, the wicketkeeper for India, was included in the list of 61 players for the 2024 Duleep Trophy’s forthcoming first round on Wednesday. The domestic red-ball tournament, scheduled to be played between September 5 and 24 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, is expected to play a crucial role in the selection of the Indian Test team for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh.

Ishan Kishan took a mental health leave of absence prior to the Test series in South Africa in December 2023, and he has not been a member of the Indian team since.

The decision by the BCCI’s selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, sparked discussions on Ishan’s potential return to the Indian squad.But before Ishan resumed playing domestic cricket, BCCI secretary Jay Shah gave him a direct message.

Ishan took a mental-health leave of absence prior to the Test series in South Africa in December 2023, and he has not been a member of the Indian team since.

After he disregarded the board’s directive for all Indian players to make themselves accessible for the domestic season when not on national duty, he was later removed from the BCCI’s central contract list in February.Ishan did not receive consideration for the T20 World Cup or any of the three white-ball series India played following the tournament.

He did, however, show up for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024. But Ishan not only declared himself available for the upcoming domestic season, as reported by BCCI, but the selectors also once again trusted his abilities to name him for the Duleep Trophy, a move that may see him rejoin the Indian team for the Bangladesh series.

In an interview with Times of India, Shah hinted to Ishan’s potential return to India, saying, “He will have to follow the rules,” ahead of the much anticipated return. He must participate in domestic cricket.

Ishan Kishan makes the first move to return to India

Currently dominating the Jharkhand Cricket Association in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, a domestic pre-season red-ball competition, is the wicketkeeper-batter.

Ishan hit an 86-ball century on Friday, the second day of Jharkhand’s first-round match against Madhya Pradesh, en route to a knock of 114, which enabled his team to surpass the opposition’s first-inning total of 225.

Ishan Kishan hits back to back sixes to reach 86 ball century in Buchi Babu tournament. 🤯

– Welcome back, Kishan…!!! ⭐pic.twitter.com/a7Nw1hgs7H

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 16, 2024

In his first red-ball cricket match since making his international debut for India during their tour of the West Indies in July 2023, he scored back-to-back sixes to reach his three-figure score. In the course of just 39 balls, he hammered nine sixes overall.

Ishan kishan comeback to the local circuit is a noteworthy development in his career, particularly in light of his December 2023 departure from the Indian team. Before the Test series in South Africa, the wicketkeeper took a mental health leave, and he hasn’t played for the national team since.

When he was removed from BCCI’s central contract list in February 2024, his absence became much more apparent. His alleged noncompliance with the BCCI’s directive, which mandated that all Indian players make themselves available for the domestic season when not on national service, led to his removal

Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, was questioned recently over the procedure for reintegrating Ishan Kishan into the Indian squad. The former head coach Rahul Dravid’s advise, which Shah highlighted, is for Kishan to focus on the forthcoming Duleep Trophy, which signals the start of the new domestic season. He must abide by the guidelines. He’ll have to play cricket in his home country,’ said Shah.