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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) terminated the central contracts of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer earlier this year. Reports suggested that the Board expressed dissatisfaction with Ishan and Iyer for favouring the Indian Premier League (IPL) over domestic cricket, leading to their exclusion from the list of cricketers receiving central contracts. This move sparked intense discussions within the cricketing fraternity. Now, Jay Shah, the secretary of BCCI, has issued a statement regarding the matter.
Jay Shah reacts to the termination of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer’s contracts
During a media interaction at the BCCI head office, Shah disclosed that he played no role in the termination of the contracts of the two Indian cricketers. He clarified that he lacked the authority to make such decisions and instead attributed Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, as the individual responsible for the decision.
“You can check the constitution. I am just a convener (of the selection meeting), that decision lies with Ajit Agarkar, even when these two players (Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer) who did not play domestic (cricket), the decision to drop them was only his,” Shah told media.
“My role is just to implement. And we have got new players (in place), like Sanju (Samson). Nobody is indispensable,” he added.
Shah stated that he communicated with the players following their contract omissions, a fact that was also reported by the media. Additionally, he noted having discussed domestic tournaments with Hardik Pandya, emphasizing the mandatory requirement for every cricketer to participate in such events, regardless of their personal preferences.
“Yes, I had spoken with them. Media had even carried the reports,” the BCCI secretary said.
“Even Hardik said if BCCI is considering me for white-ball, then I am ready to play Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Any player will have to play, even if they do not want to, they will have to,” Shah further stated.
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Shah cites the difference between playing in the IPL and representing India
Shah remarked that in the IPL, high scores are primarily determined by the players’ performance and their capacity to maintain it over time. He illustrated his point by using the example of Ishan, suggesting that while the batter may struggle to secure a place in the Indian national team, he can still excel as a player for the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise in the IPL, where the environment might be less pressurized.
Shah contrasted this with the expectations placed on players representing Team India, emphasizing the need for consistent and exceptional performances to succeed at that level. He concluded by asserting that those who can handle these demands effectively can be considered the right fit for the team.
“Whoever plays well in the IPL, like say Ishan Kishan, he finds it difficult to take part with the Indian team but he can play in Mumbai Indians as a player. There he can play in a relaxed manner. In Team India, you have to prove yourself, give back to back performances. The one who can handle that can be described as a right player,” the 35-year-old concluded.
