On Wednesday, the BCCI sent a clear message to players emphasizing the importance of domestic cricket by excluding two Indian stars, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, from its annual retainers for 2023-34.
The BCCI revealed a roster of 30 centrally contracted players, with notable advancements for KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj, who have been promoted to Grade A. Meanwhile, the recuperating Rishabh Pant has been downgraded to Grade B.
In the previous season, Shreyas Iyer held a Grade B contract, while Ishan Kishan was in Grade C. However, both players are conspicuously absent from the latest list of contracted players.
“Please note that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations,” read a statement from BCCI.
In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up, @ShreyasIyer15 and @ishankishan51! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you'll conquer once again.
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 28, 2024
The latest occurrence stems from a strong advisory issued by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, emphasizing serious repercussions for Indian players who fail to prioritize their domestic cricket responsibilities during periods when they are not participating in international assignments.
Iyer was initially part of the India squad for the first two Tests in the ongoing five-match series against England but was later dropped. He did not participate in Mumbai’s quarter-final match against Baroda, with media reports suggesting that Iyer had encountered back spasms after the conclusion of the second Test.
“In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up, @ShreyasIyer15, and @ishankishan51! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you’ll conquer once again,” Shastri posted on X (formerly Twitter).
