‘Fit enough to practice but not to play domestic cricket?’ – Irfan Pathan takes sly dig at Ishan Kishan

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan had asked BCCI to release him from the Indian squad ahead of the two-match Test series against South Africa due to mental fatigue in December 2023. Since then, Kishan is yet to mark his return to the Indian team and has recently begun practising with the Krunal and Hardik Pandya in the Reliance Stadium in Baroda.

Notably, when being asked about Kishan’s availability in a press conference, head coach Rahul Dravid stated that the 25-year-old needs to play competitive matches to make it to the Indian squad. However, the southpaw hasn’t played a single game for Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024.

Recently, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan took an indirect dig at Kishan for skipping domestic cricket and questioned how can someone be fit enough for practice but not for playing domestic cricket.

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“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 his X account.

Furthermore, according to another report, Kishan is upset with the team management for picking Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper batter in the Indian T20I side. Notably, Sharma made his debut in the Asian Games 2023 and has played nine matches so far scoring 100 runs from seven innings at a strike rate of 147.05.

Also Read: Reports: Ishan Kishan unhappy with team management considering Jitesh Sharma for T20Is

With the opening slots almost confirmed with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, the only place for Kishan to play in the XI is at the wicketkeeper’s slot. Hence, Kishan reportedly didn’t like the team preferring someone else over him and got himself released from the squad.

Ishan Kishan scored two fifties in the last series he played

Kishan last played for India in the third T20I against Australia in Guwahati on November 28, 2023 where he got out for a five-ball duck. However, he scored half-centuries in the first two T20Is of the series registering scores of 52 (32) and 58 (39) respectively.

The southpaw has scored 796 runs from 32 innings in T20Is at an average of 25.67 and a strike rate of 124.37 with six fifties to his name. Kishan will be hopeful for a good season in IPL 2024 to make a strong case for his selection for the T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to be played in the USA and West Indies from June 1.