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Ishan Kishan does have some good news, but it comes
with a catch. Assuming Kishan can demonstrate his health in a Ranji Trophy
match, the Indian team management has apparently opted to release KL Rahul of
his keeping responsibilities in Test matches. This puts Kishan as the clear
favourite to open the forthcoming five-match series against England on January
25. Despite being available for selection, Kishan may have been left out of the
Afghanistan T20Is, according to a number of sources. That might have happened
because of mistrust between him and the team manager.
However, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid was
categorical that Kishan was not subject to any disciplinary discipline. The
left-hander will be taken into consideration as soon as he becomes available,
but he must demonstrate his fitness in a first-class match. He was not selected
for the Afghanistan T20Is.
“Absolutely no disciplinary issue. Ishan Kishan
was not available for selection. Ishan requested for a break, which we agreed
in South Africa. We supported it. He has not yet made himself available. When
he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for
selection,” Dravid told reporters in Mohali on the eve of the
series-opening T20I.
According to earlier reports, Kishan’s use of the
leaves he was given for his “mental fatigue” to party in Dubai left
the Indian team management less than pleased. Kishan has been requesting a
leave of absence from his national team since the ODI World Cup in 2018. Over
the past 13 months, the gifted keeper-batter has regularly participated in all
three formats for the Indian team. Even though he didn’t have many
opportunities in the XI, he always made the most of them.
Whatever the cause, Kishan now has the upper hand. If
the 25-year-old wants to be the starting keeper for the England series, he has
been told emphatically that he must play first-class cricket. Reports varying
on his availability for the same have been found.
According to The Indian Express, Kishan is unlikely to
participate in the Ranji Trophy and, should he not be chosen for the England
series, he would immediately begin playing for the Mumbai Indians in the 2024
Indian Premier League.