Cricket

IPL Career Can Coexist with First-Class Cricket, Says Sourav GangulyFormer Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has asserted that players can successfully balance Indian Premier League (IPL) commitments with first-class cricket. This statement comes amidst the controversy surrounding the BCCI's decision not to offer central contracts to Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan due to their non-participation in domestic cricket.Ganguly emphasized that numerous top players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and David Warner, have effectively managed both red-ball and white-ball cricket. He recalled that during his playing days, he, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar also played both formats."They can play both red-ball and white-ball. IPL career can happen along with stint in first-class cricket. They don't clash. First-class cricket finishes and then there's almost a month before the IPL starts. I don't see any problem," Ganguly told Times of India.Ganguly cited examples of players like Mitchell Marsh, Harry Brook, and David Warner who have excelled in both Test cricket and white-ball cricket. He questioned the notion that players cannot play both formats."A lot of the top-quality players play Test cricket and white-ball cricket. You look at Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. On the world stage, there's Mitchell Marsh. He is Australia's premier red-ball player now. Harry Brook plays red-ball cricket. David Warner played so much Test cricket but he was also one of the best white-ball players. Even in my days, Sachin, Rahul and myself played Test cricket and then played white-ball cricket. There's no reason to say that you can play one and not the other."Ganguly also addressed concerns about the younger generation of players needing better guidance. He suggested that the BCCI should communicate with players like Ishan Kishan to understand their perspectives."For someone like Ishan Kishan, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, president Roger Binny and the selectors need to speak to him. All this while he has played Ranji and then played white-ball cricket. Has it made him a poorer player? It hasn't," Ganguly said.Ganguly emphasized that most players selected for the Delhi Capitals have participated in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy. He acknowledged that there may be a few exceptions who require guidance.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to drop Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from its central contract list has sparked a global debate. While some have criticized the board for its harsh action, others have supported its stance.Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has backed the BCCI, stating that such a move was necessary to punish the players for ignoring the board's orders. Akmal believes that by dropping Kishan and Iyer, the BCCI has demonstrated its "good management.""If you don't value the cricket because of which you made it to the national team, what message is it going to give to all the youngsters?" Akmal said on his YouTube channel. "BCCI has made the right call, taking such strict action early on to control the damage."Akmal added that the BCCI's decision sends a clear message to players that they cannot play on their own terms. "Nobody is bigger than the game," he said.Kishan and Iyer were reportedly reluctant to play in national-level domestic tournaments, which is believed to be the reason for their exclusion. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who is also a former BCCI president, has urged the board to speak to Kishan about his decision."All this while he has played Ranji and then played white-ball cricket. Has it made him a poorer player? It hasn't," Ganguly said. "All the players picked in Delhi Capitals have played Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy."Ganguly's comments suggest that the BCCI may be willing to reconsider its decision if Kishan and Iyer show a willingness to play in domestic tournaments. However, it remains to be seen whether the players will change their stance.

Indian cricket team spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and wrestler Sangeeta Phogat shared a light-hearted moment during the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa wrap-up party on Friday, and the video of their banter has gone viral on social media. In the video, Phogat can be seen lifting Chahal on her back and spinning him before the cricketer requested her to stop as his head was seemingly spinning. Chahal's wife Dhanashree Verma is among the five finalists in the dance reality show, and he earlier requested fans to vote for her.Meanwhile, former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed his surprise over the leg spinner being excluded from the central contracts of the BCCI. He added that Chahal's ouster means the selection committee is looking at other options."I am a bit surprised that Yuzi Chahal's name is not there. Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shikhar Dhawan - their names not being there, I can understand. Even Deepak Hooda for that matter. But Chahal's name not being there - what does that signify? It seems to indicate that they (BCCI) are looking in a different direction. This is a validation of the theory. He might have had a ray of hope, but it wasn't to be. His name is not there," said Chopra on his YouTube channel.The out-of-favour duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were excluded after ignoring the directive to play Ranji Trophy, while skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli expectedly retained their place in the top bracket as the BCCI unveiled its centrally-contracted players for this year.The 25-year-old Kishan did not turn up for Jharkhand throughout the team's campaign in Ranji Trophy despite not being on national duty since leaving from the tour of South Africa in December citing personal reasons. He has instead focused on preparing for the IPL next month.Iyer, on the other hand, did not make himself available for Mumbai's Ranji quarterfinal against Baroda after being excluded from the Indian team after the second Test against England. He, however, has been picked for the Ranji semifinals starting March 2.

BCCI's Contract Termination for Domestic Neglect: A Step to Protect First-Class CricketLegendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has lauded the BCCI's decision to terminate central contracts for players who prioritize international cricket over domestic commitments. This move, he believes, is crucial to safeguard marquee first-class events like the Ranji Trophy.The BCCI recently excluded Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from its central contracts after they ignored the board's directive to participate in the Ranji Trophy. The decision sparked mixed reactions, with some former players supporting the duo. However, Kapil Dev has unequivocally backed the BCCI's stance."Yes, a few players will suffer, but let it be," said Kapil. "Nobody is bigger than the country. Well done."He emphasized the importance of domestic cricket in nurturing and developing players. "I was sad to see domestic cricket being given the skip by players once they had established themselves in international cricket," he observed.The BCCI's decision is intended to send a strong message that domestic competitions must be given due importance. Kishan, despite not being on national duty, chose to focus on IPL preparations instead of playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. Iyer, on the other hand, made himself unavailable for Mumbai's Ranji quarterfinal after being dropped from the Indian team.Kapil believes that established stars have a duty to support domestic cricket, as they owe their success to their respective states. "International players should make themselves available to play for their states," he said. "It helps them extend their support to domestic players and pay back for the services rendered by the state association."The BCCI's move has also been welcomed by former cricketers who have benefited from the enhanced pension scheme. Kapil expressed his gratitude for the increase in monthly pensions, which has provided much-needed relief to families of yesteryear players.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, two prominent Indian cricketers, have been excluded from the latest BCCI contracts, sparking speculation and debate. The duo's omission has been interpreted as a stern message from the cricket governing body to players who prioritize franchise cricket over domestic commitments.Ishan Kishan, who took a break from India's tour of South Africa, has been practicing in Baroda instead of representing his state Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, claimed an injury prevented him from playing for Mumbai in the same tournament. However, reports suggest that the NCA's assessment contradicts Iyer's claim.The BCCI's decision to exclude Iyer and Kishan from the annual contract list has raised eyebrows. "Please note that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations," the BCCI stated in a release.The BCCI has emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for players who are not representing the national team. "The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team," the release added.Despite their exclusion, there is still a possibility that Iyer and Kishan could earn BCCI contracts in the future. "The selectors don't doubt their ability," a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. "But if the NCA is saying you are fit and you are not making yourself available for the Test series, how can the BCCI offer you a contract?"The BCCI release outlines the criteria for pro-rata contracts: "Athletes who meet the criteria of playing a minimum of 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is within the specified period will automatically be included in Grade C on a pro-rata basis." The specified period is from October 1st, 2023 to September 30th, 2024.The exclusion of Iyer and Kishan serves as a reminder of the BCCI's commitment to domestic cricket and its expectation that players prioritize it over franchise commitments. The duo's future with the national team remains uncertain, but they have an opportunity to earn contracts by fulfilling the criteria outlined by the BCCI.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced its new central contracts, sparking debate over the inclusion of Hardik Pandya and the exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has defended the BCCI's decision, arguing that Pandya's case is distinct from that of Kishan and Iyer.Pandya, who has not played international cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023 due to an ankle injury, was awarded a Grade A contract. Kishan and Iyer, on the other hand, were not included in the list for not participating in domestic cricket.Chopra emphasized that Pandya cannot be penalized for not playing first-class cricket because he is not vying for a spot in India's Test squad. "He is not playing red-ball cricket. That ambition or aspiration does not exist anymore," Chopra said.Chopra also highlighted Pandya's unavailability from both domestic and international cricket, explaining that he never missed a game like Kishan and Iyer. "He got injured during the World Cup, that was October-November," Chopra explained. "He was playing in the World Cup for India at that time."Pandya recently returned to competitive cricket at the DY Patil T20 Cup, leading the Reliance 1 team. He picked up 2 for 22 against Bharat Petroleum.Chopra's analysis suggests that the BCCI's decision to award Pandya a central contract is justified, given his unique circumstances and his continued value to the Indian team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently implemented a new rule mandating all centrally contracted cricketers, who are not with the national team, to participate in red-ball cricket in the domestic circuit. This decision was made to address the growing concern of players missing domestic cricket, which is seen as crucial for their development and match fitness.BCCI Secretary Jay Shah emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for players' overall growth and stated that no excuses would be tolerated in this matter. He mentioned that all contracted players have been informed about this rule and that they must adhere to it. Shah also clarified that this rule is not specifically targeted at any particular player, such as Ishan Kishan, who was recently in the news for reportedly being asked by the BCCI to play for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy.In the midst of this controversy, reports emerged that Shreyas Iyer had made himself unavailable for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarterfinals citing injury concerns. However, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has confirmed that Iyer has no 'fresh injuries' and was fit to play. This has raised questions about the validity of Iyer's injury claims and whether he is genuinely injured or simply avoiding domestic cricket.Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan took to social media to express his concern about the different rules seemingly being applied to different players regarding their participation in domestic cricket. He questioned why some players are allowed to skip domestic matches under the pretext of looking after their bodies while others are expected to play.The BCCI's decision to enforce mandatory participation in domestic cricket is a significant step towards ensuring that players are adequately prepared for international cricket. Domestic cricket provides players with the opportunity to gain valuable experience, improve their skills, and build their match fitness. By mandating their participation, the BCCI aims to raise the overall standard of Indian cricket and produce players who are ready to compete at the highest level.