'Players must play first-class cricket': Ganguly defends BCCI's decision on Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer

Former captain of India Sourav Ganguly has backed the Board of Cricket Control in India's decision to sever Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer's central contracts. The BCCI's most recent contract retention list for 2024 did not include the two players.

Kishan chose to prepare in Baroda with Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya ahead of the forthcoming IPL 2024 after skipping the Test series against South Africa as well as the final two games for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy competition.

Meanwhile, Iyer played the first two England Tests after featuring in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy game against Andhra. He was then ruled out of the last three games and went to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), complaining of a back spasm. The NCA medical team cleared him of an injury but the batter didn’t make himself available for a return to the ongoing Test series neither did he play the red-ball domestic tournament. Instead, he was spotted in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ pre-season camp in Kolkata.

Although the BCCI hasn't provided a clear explanation for leaving out Iyer and Kishan, rumours have claimed that their absence has displeased the board members and selectors.

Ganguly, who was the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for four years from 2019 to 2022, also agreed with the board that cricketers in the country should play domestic cricket if they are fit and not on national duty.

“I think the BCCI wants them to play first-class cricket. I am surprised that Shreyas Iyer has not played Ranji Trophy. It is a premier tournament and you are supposed to play, Ganguly told RevzSportz during an interview.

"So, it is a decision by BCCI and what they have thought right they have done. Every contracted cricketer must play first-class cricket because that is the basic premise of cricket in this country,” Ganguly added.

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