'Not ready yet' - Here is how Ishan Kishan rejected India Cricket Team's offer to participate in India vs England Test series

Amidst the recent controversy surrounding the termination of central contracts for several players, Ishan Kishan, an accomplished wicketkeeper-batter, found himself in the spotlight. News reports surfaced, revealing that Kishan had declined an opportunity to stage a comeback in the ongoing Test series against England.

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The Indian team management extended an invitation to Kishan after the conclusion of the 2nd Test in Vizag, offering him a chance to rejoin the squad. However, the southpaw, who had recently been excluded from the Indian Cricket Board’s central contract list for the 2023–24 season, expressed his unreadiness to resume international duties.

Despite his recent omission, Kishan had been a regular in the Indian squad, featuring prominently in the 2023 ODI World Cup. His last appearance for the Men in Blue was in the T20I series against Australia at home in November 2023. However, the player opted for a mental health break from the board and returned home after not finding a place in the playing XI.

Why did Ishan Kishan lose the central contract?

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During this hiatus, social media circulated images of Kishan celebrating his brother’s birthday, shedding light on his moments amid the professional pause. Interestingly, during his time away from the Indian team, Kishan did not participate in the Ranji Trophy with Jharkhand.

Instead, he chose to train with star all-rounder Hardik Pandya in Baroda. His absence from the T20I series against Afghanistan in February and the ongoing Test series against England did not deter the board from offering him a chance to make a comeback.

According to reports, the team management reached out to Kishan during the England Test series to assess his availability. However, the wicketkeeper batter conveyed that he was not prepared to return to international cricket at that juncture.

Subsequently, with Kishan declining the offer, the selectors opted to replace the underperforming KS Bharat with young talent Dhruv Jurel. Jurel, making his debut in the Rajkot Test, emerged as the Player of the Match for his stellar contributions in the fourth Test in Ranchi, adding an unexpected twist to the unfolding saga surrounding Ishan Kishan and the Indian team's composition.