BCCI Drops Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from Contract List for 2023-24 Season
Indian cricketers Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have been excluded from the latest BCCI contract list for the 2023-24 season. The BCCI stated that the duo “were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations.”
The decision comes amidst controversy surrounding their absence from the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Iyer, who was sidelined from the quarterfinal on February 23, faced scrutiny, while Kishan, despite being part of the national squad for the South Africa Test series last year, withdrew due to ‘personal reasons’ and has not participated in recent Ranji matches.
The BCCI retained Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja in the A+ category. Notable promotions to the A category include Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill. However, Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel were demoted to the B category, where Yashasvi Jaiswal secured a place.
In an effort to emphasize discipline and the significance of domestic cricket, the BCCI previously announced that all contracted players must partake in the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches. This directive aligns with the recent emphasis on prioritizing domestic cricket during periods when players are not representing the national team.
The B category now includes Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, while newcomers like Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, among others, are listed in the C category.
In a groundbreaking move, the Selection Committee recommended fast bowling contracts for athletes such as Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Vidwath Kaverappa.
The BCCI’s directive for players to actively participate in domestic cricket when not on national duty underscores their commitment to nurturing and promoting talent at the grassroots level.