“Does this even make sense?” ex-India cricketer finds it ‘PERPLEXING’ how Ishan Kishan can’t play Ranji Trophy despite being fit enough for practice

Irfan Pathan took an indirect dig at Kishan for not taking part in the Ranji Trophy.

“Does this even make sense?” ex-India cricketer finds it ‘PERPLEXING’ how Ishan Kishan can’t play Ranji Trophy despite being fit enough for practice

Ishan Kishan (Image via X)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the next three Tests against England. Wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul‘s inclusion will be based on his fitness, while KS Bharat will get the chance again to don the gloves despite his ordinary performances in the previous two Tests.

Another wicketkeeper-batter, Ishan Kishan, would have got the chance in the squad again if had made himself available. But as he withdrew his name in the middle of the South Africa series due to “mental fatigue“, head coach Rahul Dravid wanted the youngster to play at least some competitive cricket to make a comeback to the national team.

YouTube video

Kishan, however, did not take part in the Ranji Trophy match between Jharkhand and Haryana, which started on February 9. According to a report on Cricbuzz, the 25-year-old has been training at the Kiran More Academy in Baroda along with Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya. Reacting to the report, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan took an indirect dig at Kishan for not taking part in the Ranji Trophy.

Finding it perplexing how someone can be fit enough to practice but not play domestic cricket. How does this even make sense?
Pathan wrote on X

Aakash Chopra says BCCI will maintain protocol when it comes to team selection

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra said the Indian management is not going to consider Ishan Kishan for selection if he doesn’t play cricket. But Chopra is confident that the youngster will not be ignored if he does play some competitive cricket.

Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan (Image via ESPNcricinfo)
If he is not going to play for a while, the Indian team is not going to consider him. Regardless of whether KS Bharat plays or not, whether Dhruv Jurel gets a chance or not, or someone like Jagadeesan gets in, you never know.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel

Kishan was sidelined in several series because of team balance. Also, he had been on the road for a long time in 2023. The Jharkhand-born has a double century to his name in ODIs, and he was also the Orange Cap winner in the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL).

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