Despite the controversy surrounding his absence from the Afghanistan T20Is, Ishan Kishan is the leading candidate to secure the wicketkeeper’s position in the upcoming England Tests. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to relieve KL Rahul of his keeping duties, presenting a potential opportunity for Kishan. However, this opportunity comes with a condition – Kishan must prove his fitness in a Ranji Trophy match before the five-match series against England begins on January 25.
Several reports suggested that Kishan may have been omitted from the Afghanistan T20Is due to a lack of trust between him and the team management. India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, clarified that there was no disciplinary action taken against Kishan, emphasizing that he had requested a break, which was supported during the South Africa tour. Dravid stated that once Kishan makes himself available, he will play domestic cricket to prove his fitness before being considered for selection.
Earlier reports hinted at displeasure from the team management after Ishan Kishan was seen partying in Dubai during the break granted for his ‘mental fatigue.’ Despite being a regular part of the Indian side in the last 13 months, Kishan has been seeking breaks from national duties since the ODI World Cup. Dravid reaffirmed the team’s policy that players must prove their fitness in domestic games after missing matches due to injury or other reasons.
While there is conflicting information about Kishan’s availability for the Ranji Trophy, the directive from the team management is clear – he must play first-class cricket to be considered as the primary wicketkeeper for the England series. The decision not to select Kishan for the Afghanistan T20Is generated media attention, leading to questions about his availability and choices.
The report also discusses the rationale behind not considering KL Rahul as the Test keeper, citing the team management’s preference for a specialist wicketkeeper to handle spinners on Indian pitches. With Rishabh Pant still recovering from injuries and Wriddhiman Saha moving on, the selectors seem inclined towards Kishan, who has experience in Test matches and has served as the regular keeper for Jharkhand in 50 first-class games.
KS Bharat, another contender for the wicketkeeper’s role, faces competition from Kishan and Rahul, with his disappointing performance in the home series against Australia and the WTC final affecting his standing. Bharat is expected to feature in the unofficial tests against England Lions before the official Test series, providing an opportunity to stake his claim.
