The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made significant changes to its latest central contracts list for the 2023-24 season, notably excluding Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, and Cheteshwar Pujara. This decision follows recent scrutiny over Iyer and Kishan’s absence from the 2024 Ranji Trophy due to personal and fitness-related reasons.
Former Test No. 3 batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been out of international cricket since being dropped from the team last year, also finds himself without a central contract. Both Iyer and Kishan were previously under Grade B and Grade C contracts, respectively, highlighting their exclusion from the latest list.
The board’s decision comes in light of concerns raised over players’ commitment to domestic cricket, particularly with regards to prioritizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the Ranji Trophy. BCCI secretary Jay Shah reportedly issued a warning to several domestic cricketers, emphasizing the importance of the Ranji Trophy and discouraging prioritization of the IPL.
In the new contracts, Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill have been promoted to Grade A contracts, while 15 athletes are now placed under Grade C contracts. Notable exclusions from the Grade C list include Shikhar Dhawan and Deepak Hooda.
Factors Leading to Exclusion of Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan by BCCI:
The exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the central contracts is attributed to their unavailability for national team duties and domestic cricket commitments. Kishan had taken a break from cricket citing personal reasons during the South Africa tour and only recently returned to action in the DY Patil T20 tournament. Meanwhile, Iyer’s absence from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match was reportedly due to disagreements regarding his fitness assessment conducted by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The BCCI has stressed the importance of players prioritizing domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team. This directive aligns with recent communication from BCCI secretary Jay Shah, urging centrally contracted players to prioritize domestic cricket and national duties over the IPL.
India captain Rohit Sharma has echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of players demonstrating a hunger for Test cricket. This sentiment was reiterated by the team management’s stance towards players who choose not to participate in domestic cricket despite being available for national selection.
While the ability of the players is acknowledged, the BCCI emphasizes the importance of players fulfilling their domestic cricket commitments to be eligible for national contracts. The exclusion of these players from central contracts serves as a tangible statement addressing the conflict between domestic and IPL priorities within Indian cricket.
The BCCI’s decision underscores its commitment to upholding the significance of domestic cricket and fostering a culture of dedication and accountability among Indian cricketers.
Also, do read: Latest: BCCI Announces Team India’s 2023-24 Player Contracts
