Team India head coach Rahul Dravid on Wednesday dismissed media reports which claimed that batting stars Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were dropped from the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan due to disciplinary issues.
The Indian Express claimed that the BCCI selectors dropped Kishan from the T20I side after he asked for a break from the sport due to mental fatigue and was then spotted partying in Dubai with his friends instead of returning home from South Africa.
Kishan & Iyer dropped for AFG series
Kishan missed the white-ball leg on the South Africa tour after which he was mysteriously dropped from the Indian squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan starting January 11.
Another report in Anandabazar Patrika claimed that Iyer was not picked for the Afghanistan T20Is as he did not play domestic cricket for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy after returning from the rainbow nation.
Iyer struggled to score big runs in the 2 Tests against the Proteas and was asked to regain his form by playing for Mumbai. He was later included the squad for the Ranji Trophy clash vs against Andhra Pradesh beginning on Friday ahead of the home Test series against England later this month.
Dravid reveals real reasons behind star players' absence
"Media reports are not true - Ishan Kishan asked for the rest, he hasn't made himself available and Shreyas Iyer missed out due to lots of batters in the mix - no disciplinary actions, these are fake," Dravid said at the pre-match press conference.
Final preparations before T20 World Cup 2024
The initial T20I encounter between India and Afghanistan is scheduled to take place at the PCA stadium in Mohali on January 11.
Significantly, the forthcoming bilateral series against Afghanistan marks India's final international commitment in T20I cricket before the commencement of the World Cup on June 4.
Depleted teams face off in 1st T20I
India will miss Virat Kohli in the 1st T20I due to personal reasons. Rohit's team will also be without key players Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, with both ruled out of the 3-match series due to ankle injuries.
Conversely, Afghanistan will enter the first T20I without their pivotal bowler, Rashid Khan, who is in the process of recovery from a recent back surgery.
