In a surprising move, star cricketers Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have been left out of the BCCI’s annual player retainership list for the 2023-24 season. This decision came as a heavy blow to the duo, who had been under scrutiny by the BCCI in recent times.

The exclusion means that Kishan and Iyer will miss out on the annual fee provided by the BCCI, along with other perks such as access to the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Without central contracts, they can only utilize NCA facilities with approval from their respective state boards.

BCCI’s decision shocks cricketing world

Notably, in the previous season’s contracts, Iyer was placed in Grade B and received Rs 3 crore annually, while Ishan Kishan was in Grade C with an annual fee of Rs 1 crore. Losing these financial benefits, coupled with the absence of insurance cover for IPL-related injuries, adds to the challenges faced by the two players.

Moreover, being sidelined from central contracts poses hurdles in their path to national recognition. This setback could further hinder their chances of reclaiming a spot in the national team.

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Reasons behind Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer’s ouster

So, what led to their exclusion? Ishan Kishan’s decision to take a break during India’s Tour of South Africa raised eyebrows, especially as he missed Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy matches and trained with IPL teammate Hardik Pandya instead. Similarly, Shreyas Iyer’s absence from a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai due to injury, coupled with conflicting reports from the NCA, contributed to the selectors’ dissatisfaction.

As per report, the BCCI selectors expressed disappointment over Kishan’s training activities during his break and Iyer’s participation in a pre-IPL camp despite skipping a match for Mumbai. These actions seemingly influenced the selectors’ decision to exclude them from central contracts.