Full list of players removed from BCCI’s annual contracts for 2023-24 season

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Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan skipped Ranji Trophy matches
Here’s the complete list of players removed from BCCI’s annual contracts

In a recent announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan found themselves excluded from the central retainer for the 2023-24 season. This decision came as a significant development, considering both players were part of India’s ODI World Cup squad lat year.

The unveiling of the list of 30 men’s cricketers for the annual contracts was done by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on Wednesday, drawing attention to the absence of Shreyas and Ishan from the roster.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan skipped Ranji Trophy matches

The rationale behind Shreyas and Ishan’s exclusion stemmed from their recent cricketing activities. Despite directives urging participation in domestic cricket, Ishan opted to bypass the Ranji Trophy, choosing instead to train in Vadodara alongside his IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians, captain Hardik Pandya after returning from India’s tour to South Africa.

Similarly, Shreyas faced scrutiny for his absence from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy matches after being dropped from India’s Test squad following the second game against England.

Addressing the reporters, Shah clarified, “Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations.” He further emphasized the BCCI’s stance, reiterating the importance of domestic cricket participation during periods when players are not representing the national team.

Alongside Iyer and Kishan, several other notable players were also removed from the BCCI’s annual contracts for the 2023-24 season, including Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan, Deepak Hooda and Yuzvendra Chahal.

The Indian board has moved ahead of these players as they weren’t selected in the squad of any format post ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2024, which India lost to Australia.