Ishan Kishan remains unavailable for Ranji Trophy despite clear instructions from Head Coach Rahul Dravid

The star wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan took a hiatus from the demanding cricket schedule last month. This decision generated an extensive discussion within the Indian cricket community. Ishan cited mental fatigue, attributing it to his continuous involvement in various tours, including the West Indies, Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, T20I series against Australia, and the South Africa tour, all packed into a consistent stretch last year. However, with intense competition for positions in the Indian team, Ishan now finds himself in a considerably lower standing for the wicketkeeping spots in the squad.

Moreover, Sanju Samson stepped in as Ishan Kishan’s replacement in the ODIs against South Africa. He made a powerful statement by scoring a match-winning century in the series decider. This outstanding performance earned Sanju Samson a spot in the T20I squad for the series against Afghanistan. Moreover, in Tests, KL Rahul assumed the wicketkeeping role and showed his prowess with a fine century in the Centurion Test. Adding to Ishan’s concerns, head coach Rahul Dravid hinted before the 1st T20I that Ishan might need to make a comeback through the domestic circuit to reclaim his spot in the Indian team.

“No, Ishan hasn’t contacted or told us anything about his availability. Whenever he tells us, he will walk into the playing XI,” Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) secretary Debasish Chakraborty said as reported by Hindustan Times.

Competition intensifies for T20I World Cup 2024

Ishan Kishan’s concerns have been heightened by Virat Kohli’s recent comeback to the T20I squad. Although Kohli was unavailable for the first T20I against Afghanistan due to personal reasons, the seasoned batter is anticipated to rejoin the team in Indore for the second game, likely taking on the no.3 position in the batting order. In Ishan’s last T20I series against Australia in November 2023, he batted at no 3. Currently, apart from Kohli, Shubman Gill is also contending for spots in the top order, with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal named as the opening pair by Rahul Dravid.

Ishan Kishan faces additional competition in T20Is as well. Jitesh Sharma has positioned himself as the leading contender for the wicketkeeping role ahead of the T20 World Cup. In the opening match against Afghanistan on Thursday, Jitesh played a brisk innings of 31 runs in just 18 deliveries, playing a crucial role as India successfully chased down a 159-run target in Mohali. Jitesh has showcased impressive performances in his limited appearances for the Indian team, solidifying his position at the forefront of the selection hierarchy.