Wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan remains away from the Indian team, with the likes of KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel vying for the spot behind the stumps in the first two Tests against England. Kishan asked the team management for rest during the tour of South Africa and hasn’t since returned to action. When India head coach Rahul Dravid was asked about Kishan’s return, he made it clear that the wicket-keeper batter has to play some sort of cricket to be eligible for selection.
While Kishan has decided to stay away from the Ranji Trophy, despite the crystal clear message from Dravi and the team, a report has claimed that he has been training for the past couple of weeks with Hardik and Krunal Pandya at the Reliance Stadium.
“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,” Dravid had said in the post-match press conference after the conclusion of the second Test in Vizag.
A report in Cricbuzz has claimed that Ishan has been training at the Reliance Stadium in Baroda for the past couple of weeks with the Pandya brothers.
Kishan’s actions do spark curiosity as Hardik Pandya is the skipper of the Mumbai Indians franchise, the team Kishan also plays for.
According to former India cricketer, Kiran More, Kishan is training at his academy.
Kishan has not played for the Indian team in any of the three formats since November last year, but was on the bench for a few other games.
The talented wicket-keeper batter, however, he has shown no inclination towards playing competitive cricket like Ranji Trophy, despite Dravid suggesting that he needs the player to play some sort of cricket in order to make the selectors pick him for the national team’s assignments.
With the BCCI all but set to announce the squad for the remaining three Tests against England, it isn’t yet clear if Ishan will be considered for selection.
