India head coach Rahul Dravid said on Monday (February 5) addressed queries on Ishan Kishan’s prolonged break from international cricket, reiterating that the wicketkeeper-batter will have to play some form of cricket to be considered for national selection.
Kishan was last seen in action during the home T20I series against Australia post the 2023 World Cup. The southpaw pulled out of the Test series in South Africa last December, citing personal reasons. Since then, he has neither been picked in the Indian squad nor made himself available for Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
After India’s 106-run victory over England in the Vizag Test, Dravid opened up on Kishan’s situation once again.
“There is way back for anyone and everyone. I don’t want to go on labouring about the Ishan Kishan point. Have tried to explain this as best as I can, the point was he had requested a break, we were happy to give him the break,” said Dravid in the post-match presser.
“Whenever he is ready, I didn’t say he has to play domestic cricket, I said whenever he is ready, he needs to play some cricket and come back. The choice is his. We are not forcing him to do anything,” he added.
Considering KS Bharat’s low scores in the ongoing Test series against England, India could do with Kishan’s services.
First-choice wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is yet to regain fitness after sustaining multiple injuries in the horrific car crash in December 2022. Apart from Bharat, Dhruv Jurel was the other gloveman in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England.
“We are in touch with him, it is not that we have not been in touch. He has not yet started playing right so at the moment it is not something we can consider. Because you know he maybe he is not ready. He decides when he wants to be ready. We have got options with Rishabh injured and stuff. I am sure the selectors will weight all options,” the coach stated.
While Dravid was satisfied with KS Bharat’s keeping in the first two Tests, he could not say the same about his batting.
Bharat registered scores of 41, 28, 17 and 6 across the four innings in Hyderabad and Vizag.
“Disappointed is a strong word (for Bharat). I would not use that word. At times, young players do take time to develop. They grow at their own pace. Yeah I mean as a coach, you want players to grab the opportunities. His keeping has been good, he will also agree that he could have done better with the bat,” Dravid remarked.
With the victory in the second Test, Team India levelled the five-match series 1-1. The third Test is slated to be held in Rajkot from February 15.
(With PTI Inputs)
