Dropped, Disciplined or Unavailable for Selection?: Social Media Goes Into Overdrive Speculating Ishan Kishan's Absence from India Squads

The absence of Ishan Kishan has led to widespread theories on social media with users speculating why the youngster hasn’t played a single game for India since November last year despite the team taking part in as many as four series and him being part of three.

The questions began after Ishan was supposedly rested from the final two games of a five-match T20I series against Australia despite playing a limited role in the 2023 ODI World Cup. That he had struck two half-centuries added to the curiosity.

Ishan travelled to South Africa for the white-ball leg of the tour after being named in the T20I squad but didn’t play a single game. KL Rahil kept the wickets in ODIs while in T20Is, Jitesh Sharma was handed the responsibility.

Ishan then took a break from the Test series that followed citing ‘personal reasons’ which led to the speculations.

And then various rumours on his continual absence began doing the rounds in the media when India named their T20I squad for a three-match series against Afghanistan at home which again didn’t feature the wicketkeeper-batter’s name.

India head coach Rahul Dravid was asked to clear the air on the issue but he said it’s Ishan who hasn’t made himself available for selection.

“Absolutely not. Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan had requested for a break in South Africa which we agreed to, and supported that,” said Dravid ahead of the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali.

“He has made himself unavailable for selection. I am sure when he is available (for selection), he will play domestic cricket (and comeback). So that was the case,” he added.

Meanwhile, India have given a maiden call-up to the uncapped Dhruv Jurel, a wicketkeeper-batter who represented Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket. He will serve as a backup ‘keeper alongside KS Bharat for KL Rahul who donned the gloves in South Africa in Tests and ODIs.