Former Team India all-rounder-turned-cricket commentator Irfan Pathan has indirectly slammed Ishan Kishan for his absence from competitive cricket following his break from the sport due to mental fatigue.
Ishan Kishan has been out of action since December 2023 after he withdrew from India Test squad ahead of the two-match series against South Africa. He wasn't also included three-match T20I series against Proteas and the ongoing five-match T20I series against England.
Ishan Kishan is not part of Jharkhand team in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Haryana in Jamshedpur. India head coach Rahul Dravid stressed that team management wants Ishan to play domestic cricket before return to national side.
Taking to his X handle (formerly Twitter), Irfan Pathan indirectly questioned Ishan Kishan for not playing domestic cricket and instead being fit for practice.
"Finding it perplexing how someone can be fit enough to practice but not play domestic cricket. How does this even make sense?" former Indian all-rounder wrote.
For unversed, Ishan Kishan started practicing with Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya and Lucknow Super Giants all-rounder Krunal Pandya at Kiran More Academy in Baroda. Kiran More himself confirmed that Indian wicketkeeper-batter started his training for return at his academy.
This has raised several eyebrows, questioning his commitment to national team. Since Ishan Kishan remained unavailable for the England Test series, Dhruv Jurel was added to the squad as a backup wicketkeeper for KS Bharat. Bharat didn't perform well in the first two Tests of the series as he scored just 92 runs at an average of 23 across four innings.
Ishan Kishan hasn't played a Test match since playing debut series against West Indies
Ishan Kishan hasn't played a Test ever since making his first appearance in the debut series in whites against West Indies last year. The 25-year-old made his Test debut in the first match of the two-match series against Caribbean in July 2023.
Ishan registered his maiden Test fifty in the third innings of the second match against West Indies, scoring an unbeaten 52 off 34 balls. In his Test career, Ishan Kishan has scored 78 runs, including a fifty, at an average of 78 in three innings.
As per the earlier reports, a BCCI official stated that Ishan Kishan didn't inform about his availability for the Test series against England. Team India head coach Rahul Dravid said that Kishan's selection to the national side after plays some of cricket, not necessary domestic cricket.
Ishan Kishan is likely to make his return to competitive cricket through IPL 2024.
