Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator, Aakash Chopra, believes that the upcoming IPL 2024 presents a golden opportunity for Ishan Kishan to revive his cricket career.
Kishan was recently excluded from the BCCI central contract list for 2023-2024 for not playing in the Ranji Trophy 2024 for his state team, Jharkhand, despite not being on national duty.
The youngster took a break during India’s tour of South Africa last December due to mental fatigue. However, he was reportedly approached by the BCCI for the ongoing Test series against England before they asked him to play in the ongoing Ranji Trophy in 2024.
But his refusal to do so saw him losing his central contract. Kishan was not included in the annual contract list shared by BCCI for the 2023-24 season.
However, Chopra is optimistic about Kishan's prospects in the IPL 2024, saying he will be highly motivated to perform well for the Mumbai Indians (MI) to show the world what he can do after BCCI’s stern action.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “Ishan Kishan will be hungry, as he has not got a central contract. This is the only thing he is playing. What else is he playing?”
Chopra added, “Either he has himself opted not to play, or he won't be selected now. So, this is his chance. If you make the IPL your own, you have chances of going forward. Then there is, of course, Wankhede's flat pitch. The ball will come nicely onto the bat and go far.”
Kishan made his cricketing comeback in the ongoing DY Patil T20 Cup where he plays for the RBI team.
