Ishan Kishan's continued absence in Ranji Trophy matches despite board's instructions hints at major controversy

Young India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan’s absence from red-ball cricket has raised many eyebrows as he preferred practice for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 at the expense of red-ball cricket. The 25-year-old cricketer is not a part of India’s Test squad since he withdrew his name from the two-match Test series against South Africa.

It also drew a lot of criticism for the youngster from a lot of cricket experts for avoiding the traditional format of the game. Meanwhile, the Indian Cricket Board had informed Ishan to be available for Jharkhand to play in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024.

"We are not going to tolerate any other tantrums" - Jay Shah about players' unavailability for red-ball cricket

However, Jharkhand batter didn’t appear for his side in the last couple of matches in the tournament; apart from this, the Indian Cricket Board secretary Jay Shah came up with a strict stance of the cricket board and a clear-cut directive for the players to play for their domestic cricket teams in the red-ball cricket, especially the Ranji Trophy 2024. Subsequently, Ishan Kishan triggered another potential controversy as he missed the Ranji match for Jharkhand even after the Indian Cricket Board’s directive.

“They have been informed on the phone already and I'm going to write letters as well that if your chairman of selectors, your coach and your captain are asking for it then you will have to play red-ball cricket,” said Jay Shah during an event.

“(It applies to) whoever is fit and young - we are not going to tolerate any other tantrums. This message is for all centrally contracted players. Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his calls freely,” he added later.

Talking about the senior men’s cricket team, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, they are currently in action in the five-match series against England.