'Finding it perplexing’- Former India all-rounder takes indirect dig at Ishan Kishan for missing Ranji Trophy matches

India have announced their 17-men squad for the remaining three Test matches against England and among some notable exclusions one that irked many cricket fans was of wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan. Since Rishabh Pant got injured in that horrific car accident, team India has been looking for a wicketkeeper who could perform the batting duties even half as well as Pant used to but unfortunately, they haven’t been successful in finding such an alternative.

KS Bharat who was included in place of Rishabh Pant is a good wicketkeeper but has been disappointing with the bat so far in the international arena. In the 7 matches he has featured in, he has scored just 221 at a poor average of 20.09. 

Therefore, Ishan Kishan was looked up to as an apt alternative by the Indian management who could perform the same duties as Pant because he is also a left-hander and plays in the same aggressive manner as Rishabh Pant. But how Kishan is treating his international Test career has disappointed the Indian cricket fans and stakeholders.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has taken an indirect dig at Ishan Kishan for practising instead of playing in the Ranji Trophy. Irfan Pathan wrote on ‘X’: “Finding it perplexing how someone can be fit enough to practice but not play domestic cricket. How does this even make sense?”

Ishan Kishan is now expected to directly feature in the IPL playing for Mumbai Indians which will decide his selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean Islands and US.   

Ishan Kishan's 2-month-long hiatus from International Cricket

Ishan Kishan opted out of the South Africa Test series citing mental fatigue as a reason which was accepted by the Indian Cricket Board and released him. But Since then it’s been two months and he has not still made himself available for selection which is why he hasn’t been picked up in the remaining three Tests against England and India has to go with rookie Dhruv Jurel and out-of-form KS Bharat as wicket-keeping options for the remaining England Tests.

However, Kishan was recently seen practising in Baroda at the Kiran More Academy with the Pandya brothers which has given air to speculations that the young wicketkeeper batter is keeping himself fit for the IPL which is just one month away instead of playing in the Ranji Trophy and proving his match fitness for the Indian Test team.