Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on Ishan Kishan’s downfall in the pecking order. Kishan hasn’t been considered in any white-ball teams, which is a surprise as the left-hander played in the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.
In the ongoing T20I series against England, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel have been picked as the two wicket-keepers in the squad. For the Champions Trophy, Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has picked KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as the two glovemen.
“It’s interesting that we have forgotten Ishan Kishan so quickly that we are not remembering him again. He played the World Cup. He first played the T20 World Cup in Dubai and then was a part of the 2023 ODI World Cup team. He has scored a double century in ODIs,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra noted that Kishan received a rap on the knuckles for ignoring the Ranji Trophy.
“He made one mistake. It was a clear message that he didn’t want to play first-class cricket. The selectors didn’t like it, which is absolutely fine. The BCCI didn’t like it and they said a rap on the knuckles is important. So he was asked to go and play, or else he won’t be selected,” he observed.
Chopra highlighted that Kishan’s name hasn’t been considered by the selection committee despite him playing in the domestic tournaments.
“I can totally get it as he is a young player and if he refuses to play first-class because he doesn’t wish to, you need to punish him somehow. So that’s okay but now it is past. The kid has played everywhere but his name is not coming anywhere,” Chopra noted.
Similarly, the reputed commentator believes Jitesh Sharma, who was picked for the South Africa tour but didn’t play, would also be questioning his non-selection.
“Another truth about Indian cricket is that you have to stand behind in the line, and at times you don’t understand how that line is progressing. Jitesh Sharma might also be thinking that he went to South Africa, didn’t play, and only carried drinks. So why wasn’t he selected when they needed a second wicketkeeper and middle-order batter here?” Chopra said in the same video.
Ishan Kishan has scored 169 runs in four matches at an average of 33.80 for Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
