Ishan Kishan’s prolonged absence from the Indian team has become a hot topic of discussion lately. The wicketkeeper-batter was last seen in action during the home T20I series against Australia in November 2023.
Kishan withdrew his name from the Test series in South Africa last December, citing personal reasons. Since then, the left-hander has not been picked in any of the Indian squads.
In the meantime, India head coach Rahul Dravid said on multiple occasions that Ishan Kishan will have to play some form of cricket to be considered for national selection. However, the southpaw didn't make himself available for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy.
Reflecting on this situation, South African legend AB de Villiers emphasized the need for clear communication between players and team management.
De Villiers shared his own experiences with managing career challenges, particularly towards the end of his playing days.
"Whether Ishan is doing it wrong or other players are doing it right or wrong, I do not know but what needs to happen is proper communication," De Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
The former Proteas skipper highlighted the complexity of managing career priorities amidst the expansion of T20 leagues and extended his best wishes to all players grappling with similar challenges.
"Managing the career is something I found extremely difficult in the backend of my career," he admitted, emphasizing the necessity of clear and regular communication to ensure players are aware of their roles within the team.
Amid the Ishan Kishan saga, BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Wednesday (February 14) made it clear that India's centrally contracted players will have to mandatorily play domestic red-ball tournaments and the board will not tolerate any excuses for the same.
Shah also mentioned that the chairman of selectors will be given a free hand to take a call on his own if a player refuses to follow instructions given by the team management.
"They have been informed on phone already and I'm going to write letters as well that if your chairman of selectors, your coach and your captain are asking for it then you will have to play red-ball cricket," Shah told the media.
“Whatever advice we get from the NCA — say suppose somebody’s body is not able to handle both white-ball and red-ball cricket — so we do not want to impose anything in that regard. (It applies to) whoever is fit and young — we are not going to tolerate any other tantrums. This message is for all centrally contracted players,” he clarified.
“Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his own calls freely,” he added.
(With ANI/PTI Inputs)
