The former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has come out all guns blazing with an indirect message on social media after Ishan Kishan was overlooked for the national team following his break during the recent two-match Test series in South Africa.
Just so you know, the wicketkeeper-batter pulled out from two tests. He wasn’t in India’s team for the following three-match T20I series against the Proteas. And he’s not in the current five-match Test series against England.
In this, The Team India coach Rahul Dravid has emphasized that team management wants to see Ishan Kishan playing some sort of cricket before rejoining the national side.
However, Ishan Kishan has been lately seen training alongside his new Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya, and his elder brother Krunal Pandya, with whom they play for Lucknow Super Giants, at Kiran More Academy in Baroda.
“Finding it perplexing how someone can be fit enough to practice but not play domestic cricket. How does this even make sense?” Pathan wrote on X.
Ishan Kishan’s absence has prompted concerns, while KS Bharat has struggled with the bat in Tests against England. The latter has 92 runs in the first two Tests, with a dismal average of 23. Overall, Bharat has scored 221 runs in seven Tests at an average of 20.09, with no half-century.
Alternatively, Ishan Kishan participated in two Tests, with an average score of 78 across three innings.
“He needs to play some cricket and come back” – Rahul Dravid on Ishan Kishan’s absence
Rahul Dravid has stated that Ishan Kishan must play some sort of cricket, if not domestic cricket, before being considered for Team India selection again.
Cricbuzz reported what he said:
“I just don’t want to go on laboring about the Ishan Kishan point. Whenever he is ready, I didn’t say he has to play domestic cricket, I said whenever he is ready… he needs to play some cricket and come back. The choice is his. We are not forcing him to do anything. We are in touch with him.”
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid added:
“We know what it is. He hasn’t yet started playing, right? At the moment, it’s not something that we would consider. He is maybe not ready. He decides when he wants to be ready.”
Rahul Dravid
Kishan has been absent from Jharkhand’s line-up in the current Ranji Trophy. This left-swing batter is expected to return in the forthcoming Indian Premier League.