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In a surprising development, Shreyas Iyer alongside his Team India teammate Ishan Kishan have been excluded from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) central contracts. The decision appeared to be linked to their non-compliance with the board’s directives regarding participation in the Ranji Trophy. Both batters, integral to their respective teams, now faced consequences for their absence from the domestic competition.
Shreyas Iyer’s Test omission and Ranji Trophy controversy
Iyer, who faced a Test side omission after the Vizag match against England, encountered further controversy surrounding his non-participation in the Ranji Trophy. Despite claiming a back spasm, various media reports suggested that the NCA physio declared him fit, raising questions about the authenticity of his injury claims. The speculations intensified as some reports hinted at the potential impact on his contract status.
Also READ: Full list of players removed from BCCI’s annual contracts for 2023-24 season
KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit’s insights
Now, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach, Chandrakant Pandit, provided insights into the situation. Pandit clarified that Iyer was genuinely injured but had successfully recovered in time. Having worked closely with Iyer, Pandit expressed faith in the batter’s resilience and determination. He sees this setback as a driving force that will only make Iyer more dedicated and motivated to stage a powerful comeback. Iyer will lead the KKR in the upcoming IPL 2024.
“I will not say Shreyas must be included in a certain Grade, but he is definitely a player who can serve India in any format. He has had an injury issue, but it was solved. He is a good performer and even scored a century [105 against New Zealand in 2021 at Kanpur] on Test debut. In our future series, there may be some players who will not be in form, so naturally Shreyas will be there. He will play domestic cricket and can perform in the IPL. He is going to be useful for Indian cricket in any format,” Pandit said.
“It’s surprising that Shreyas was not considered for the annual contracts, because he is India’s all-format player. We don’t know the reason, but I think he should walk into the pool of India’s contracted players. He could have definitely fitted in any Grade. Knowing Shreyas, I don’t think it will affect him. He will definitely fight and perform. He has that fighting spirit,” the 62-year-old concluded.
