Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer to lose BCCI’s central contract for skipping Ranji Trophy matches – Report

Amidst the ongoing cricketing saga, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, two prominent names in Indian cricket, are set to face consequences from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their absence from Ranji Trophy matches.

Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer to be removed from BCCI’s central contract list

It is worth mentioning that Iyer was placed in Grade B of the central contract in March 2023, securing an annual salary of INR 3 crores, whereas Kishan was assigned Grade C, entitling him to an annual salary of INR 1 crore. Reports suggest that the BCCI is on the verge of unveiling the updated central contracts for players, with Kishan and Iyer potentially facing exclusion from the roster due to their reluctance to participate in domestic cricket.

“The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, have almost finalised the list of centrally-contracted players for the 2023-24 season too, which the BCCI will announce soon. Kishan and Iyer are likely to be excluded from that list, as both haven’t been playing domestic cricket despite the BCCI’s diktat to do so,” a source was quoted as saying by Times of India.

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Kishan and Iyer skipped Ranji Trophy matches this season

Kishan has been on an extended hiatus, citing personal reasons, following his return from the India tour of South Africa 2023-24 in December-January. While he has been practicing alongside his Mumbai Indians captain, Hardik Pandya, in Baroda, he’s yet to represent Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy matches.

Similarly, Iyer was notably absent from Mumbai’s recent Ranji Trophy league fixture against Assam at BKC and is set to miss the upcoming quarter-final clash against Baroda. Although the middle-order batter had notified the Mumbai Cricket Association of his unavailability due to back spasms, Nitin Patel, the head of sports science and medicine at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), conveyed in an email to the BCCI and national selectors that Iyer was deemed ‘fit’.

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The Ranji Trophy holds significant importance in Indian cricket, serving as a breeding ground for talent and a platform for players to showcase their skills. By opting out of these matches, Kishan and Iyer have not only defied the traditional pathway but have also raised questions about their commitment to domestic cricket.