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[Saba Sports News] The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a significant decision not to renew the central contracts for Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer for the 2023-24 season. This action comes in the wake of both players missing domestic games, despite the BCCI’s repeated instructions.
Particularly controversial was Iyer’s absence from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy 2024 quarter-final against Baroda, citing a back injury, although the NCA’s medical team had cleared him fit. His appearance at the Kolkata Knight Riders’ academy, skipping the Ranji match, reportedly displeased Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, influencing the BCCI’s decision to not renew his contract.
Iyer, despite his standout performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, where he scored 530 runs at an impressive average and strike rate, has struggled in Test cricket since 2023, which possibly affected his contract status. He recently made himself available for the Ranji Trophy semi-final, indicating his continued commitment to playing.
On the other hand, Kishan, who was last active for India in a T20I series against Australia, also finds himself off the contract list, having previously reported mental fatigue during the South Africa tour. Last year, Iyer was in the BCCI’s Grade B, earning INR 3 Crore, while Kishan was in Grade C with an INR 1 Crore contract.