India suffered a humiliating 28-run defeat at the hands of England in the 1st Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. This was India’s 2nd loss at home in the past 3 matches and the whole narrative of India bossing at home is slowly getting obliterated.
The Rohit Sharma-led side entrusted K.S. Bharat with the wicketkeeping duties in the 1st Test. He fared decently well and had a stiff and resilient partnership of 57 runs with Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle when India’s backs were against the wall.
But when the keeper from Andhra Pradesh was knocked over by Tom Hartley, India started slipping on a banana peel. Ashwin soon followed suit and India lost the plot in Hyderabad. It was India’s first-ever loss in the red-ball format in Hyderabad.
Ishan Kishan has been absent from the scheme of things of the Indian cricket team since a long time. He was included in the Test side of India in the overseas series versus South Africa, a month back but he asked for a break from the apex body of Indian cricket, the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI).
Post that there were several rumours and controversies surrounding him and the team management not liking the fact that Kishan was spotted partying during New Year eve in Dubai.
Head Coach Rahul Dravid rejected these rumours and highlighted the fact that the Ranchi-born wicketkeeper batter hadn’t made himself available for the 3-match T20I series versus Afghanistan in India’s first white-ball assignment in 2024.
“Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan requested for a break, which we agreed in South Africa. We supported it. He has not yet made himself available. When he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection,” said Dravid during the pre-match conference ahead of the 1st T20I between India and Afghanistan.
But the mysterious thing is that Kishan hasn’t even been playing for Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-24. He has missed a few matches for his state side and this has raised a few eyebrows in the cricketing fraternity.
Cricket fraternity reacts to Ishan Kishan’s absence
Several experts and lovers of this sport have expressed their disappointment and curiosity behind Ishan Kishan’s absence from the Indian side for the past 2 series. They have taken to X (formerly known as Twitter and voiced out their opinions).
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