NEW DELHI: Amid mounting speculation surrounding his prolonged absence from competitive cricket, wicketkeeper-batsman
Ishan Kishan
has been sighted diligently honing his skills at the Reliance Stadium in Baroda.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, Kishan has been stationed in Baroda for the past few weeks and has been actively participating in training sessions at the
Kiran More
Academy. He has been training alongside renowned cricketers such as the Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal.
Hardik Pandya
, who is set to captain the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, shares professional ties with Kishan, as they both represent the franchise.
Confirming Kishan's presence at the academy, Kiran More revealed to Cricbuzz that the 25-year-old cricketer has indeed been training under his guidance. However, he refrained from providing further details as he was occupied with the Mumbai Indians' Women's Premier League (WPL) team in Mumbai at the time.
Kishan's absence from competitive cricket since November 2023 has raised concerns, especially considering national coach
Rahul Dravid
's emphasis on active participation for national selection. Despite Dravid's remarks, Kishan has not displayed a strong inclination towards returning to competitive cricket.
Recent discussions have centered on the potential impact of Kishan's continued absence on his consideration for central contracts with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Currently holding a Grade C contract with an annual retainership of Rs 1 crore, Kishan's absence from domestic and international matches has drawn attention from cricketing authorities.
With Kishan missing out on opportunities, including the ongoing Test series against England, questions linger about his readiness to return to competitive cricket. Coach Dravid emphasized that while the choice ultimately lies with Kishan, active participation in cricket remains crucial for his future prospects.
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As speculation continues regarding Kishan's future, it has been suggested that the earliest opportunity for his return to action would be in the IPL, slated to commence in March.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that
Virat Kohli
will not be part of the Indian squad for the last three Tests, further shaping the dynamics of the team selection process in the upcoming matches.
(With inputs from IANS)
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