In a bid to enforce stringent participation rules, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated that all centrally contracted players, who are fit and not engaged in international duties, compete in domestic cricket. This directive follows disciplinary actions against Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who were previously omitted from the central contracts list for neglecting domestic matches despite their availability and fitness.

With the Duleep Trophy commencing on September 5, both Kishan and Iyer have been included in the squad, a move BCCI Secretary Jay Shah attributes to the board’s firm stance. Shah commented to the Times of India, “The inclusion of Kishan and Iyer in the Duleep Trophy squad is a direct result of our strict measures. When Ravindra Jadeja was injured, I personally urged him to participate in domestic cricket to prove his fitness.”

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The BCCI has been careful to manage the workload of star players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, who have been granted rest periods to avoid overstrain. Shah highlighted the strategy, noting that players of this calibre are not required to play domestic cricket, aligning with practices observed in England and Australia. “It is crucial to respect our top players and avoid treating them as mere fixtures,” Shah added.

India’s next international engagement will be a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19. (With inputs from news agencies)