Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha believes that any cricketer cannot be propelled to play domestic cricket. Saha’s reaction came after BCCI excluded Indian cricketers Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contract list of 2023-24.
Kishan and Iyer didn’t return to play first-class cricket as per the board orders and were preparing for the Indian Premier League. This didn’t suit well with BCCI and hence both the players were not considered for the central contracts.
Wriddiman Saha believes that removing Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer is BCCI’s decision and both the players not playing domestic cricket is their personal decision. Saha stated that any player cannot be forced to play domestic cricket.
Wriddhiman Saha gives his verdict on Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer’s refusal from central contract
Wriddhiman Saha said (as quoted by PTI), “That is BCCI’s decision and personal decision of concerned players. Forcefully, you can’t do anything.”
The Indian wicket-keeper further added that if he wants to keep himself fit he plays every match whether it be the club, office, or the domestic match. Saha also gave the example of Sarfaraz Khan and stated that he knows the importance of domestic cricket. Saha stated that Sarfaraz has scored a lot of runs in domestic cricket and has also delivered for India.
He said, “Whenever I am fit I play, even I played club matches, office matches as well. I always treat a match as a match. All matches are equal for me. If every player thinks on those lines, they will only prosper in their career and it will be better for Indian cricket as well. I feel the importance of domestic cricket is always there because if I talk about Sarfaraz Khan, he had scored plenty of runs in the last 4-5 years. Definitely, he has delivered.”
Wriddhiman Saha has been out of the Indian Test side for the past few years. Saha was India’s frontline wicket-keeper until 2022 but he was excluded from the team due to the rise of Rishabh Pant.
Indian head coach Rahul Dravid recommended Ishan Kishan to play red-ball cricket, but he chose to prepare for the IPL. Kishan pulled out of the Test series against South Africa and was not named to India’s team for the England series. Coach Rahul Dravid advised Kishan to play red-ball cricket before returning to Team India, but he ignored the suggestion and traveled to Baroda to train with Hardik Pandya. The BCCI stated in their announcement that Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were not considered for the deal.
On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer was expected to join the Mumbai camp for the Ranji Trophy. Iyer was dropped from the Indian squad following his poor performance in the first two Tests against England. However, Iyer withdrew from the Mumbai team due to a back spasm. Iyer was given fitness clearance by NCA medical specialists and thereafter declared himself ready to participate in the Ranji Trophy.
While both players have been omitted from the central contract, they will be eligible for selection. Ishan Kishan returned to cricket at the DY Patil T20 Cup and now plays for the Reserve Bank of India. Kishan was spotted exercising with Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya in Vadodara, and he will play with him for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League 2024.
