BCCI Secretary Jay Shah revealed who excluded Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from central contract

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, has clarified the recent exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contract list.

Why were Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer dropped?

Both Kishan and Iyer missed out on central contracts due to their absence from domestic cricket matches. While Iyer played a couple of Ranji Trophy matches for Mumbai, Kishan took a long break after the World Cup and only returned for the IPL.

The BCCI had previously emphasized the importance of domestic cricket participation for Indian players.

Also Read: Team India in trouble because of these two players ahead of T20 World Cup!

Who made the decision?

Jay Shah clarified that the decision to drop Kishan and Iyer solely rested with the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar. Shah’s role was to implement the decision.

During the media interaction at the BCCI head office, Jay Shah said, “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 (from the central contracts list) was only his. My role is just to implement. And we have got new players (in place), like Sanju (Samson). Nobody is indispensable.”

BCCI’s Stance on Domestic Cricket

Shah reiterated the BCCI’s position that prioritizing domestic cricket is crucial for Indian players. He used Hardik Pandya as an example, who agreed to play domestic tournaments if considered for white-ball cricket by the BCCI.

Jay Shah stated, “Even Hardik (Pandya) 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.”

Performance Matters More Than IPL

While acknowledging the high scores in this year’s IPL, Shah stressed that consistent performance and handling pressure are key factors for selection in the Indian team. He pointed out that while Kishan performs well for Mumbai Indians, playing for India requires a different level of commitment and consistent strong performances.

“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,” he added.

No Increase in Domestic Match Fees

Despite media reports suggesting an increase in domestic players’ match fees, Shah confirmed no such plans exist at the moment. However, he mentioned that the BCCI had already increased domestic player pay in 2022 and incentivized Test cricket participation.

Jay Shah revealed he had spoken to both Kishan and Iyer after their contract exclusion (though media reports had already covered this). He also mentioned a friendly conversation with Kishan after a Mumbai Indians match, but emphasized it wasn’t an advisory session.