BCCI Unhappy With Indian Stars Missing On Ranji Trophy Despite Being Fit: Report

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly wants certain players to play in the Ranji Trophy and not sit out despite being fit. At a time when veterans like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are grinding on the field in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, there are several other names that aren’t playing in first-class cricket, with Ishan Kishan being the most prominent one.

According to a TOI report, the BCCI is planning to communicate all the players to not sit out and play fr their state teams in the Ranji Trophy. Those unfit, will have to head to National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to work on their rehabilitation.

“In the next few days, all the players will be communicated by the BCCI to play for their state team in the Ranji Trophy, as long as they are not on national duty, with only those who are unfit and recovering at the NCA being granted an exemption,” a TOI source was quoted as saying.

“The Board isn’t too happy with certain players already in IPL mode from January.” Kishan, who was in the Indian squad for the ODI World Cup last year at home, opted out of the tour of South Africa to work on his mental well-being. Since then, Kishan made himself unavailable for the home T20 series against Afghanistan and the ongoing Test series against England.

Notably, Kishan has been under severe criticism for not playing in the domestic circuit. He even appeared in the popular quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by Hindi film superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

In the absence of Kishan, KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel have been named in the Indian Test squad for the ongoing Test series against England. While Bharat played in the first two Tests, there are reports uncapped Jurel might make his India debut in the third Test in Rajkot from February 15.

Recently, Kishan uploaded two videos on Instagram where he can be seen training on the ground in one while hitting the gym hard in the other. A few days ago, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan also spoke on the same about how some of the players aren’t playing domestic cricket despite being fit.

“Finding it perplexing how someone can be fit enough to practice but not play domestic cricket. How does this even make sense?,” wrote Pathan on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).