Ishan Kishan asked to prove fitness in Ranji Trophy ahead of India-England Tests

The Indian team asked Ishan Kishan to play Ranji Trophy before he can be picked in the squad for the Test series against England that gets underway later this month. India reportedly want Kishan to prove his fitness in the premier domestic First-Class competition, and are not interested in picking his senior teammate KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper-batter for the red-ball format. Kishan hasn’t represented India since the five-match T20I series against Australia that took place right after the ICC World Cup, skipping the tour of South Africa in order to focus on his mental health . The 25-year-old wasn’t named in the squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan that gets underway on Thursday in Mohali, with some outlets claiming mistrust between the board and Kishan after the Mumbai Indians player was reportedly spotted partying in Dubai during the break. Team India head coach Rahul Dravid however, dismissed reports of Kishan being punished over a “disciplinary issue” and said that the wicketkeeper-batter was in contention for the upcoming Test series against England. “Absolutely no disciplinary issue. 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,” Dravid told reporters on the eve of the first India-Afghanistan T20I in Mohali. The Ranji Trophy got underway on 5 January with Jharkhand holding defending champions Saurashtra to a draw, though they did concede a massive 436-run first innings lead to Saurashtra, with senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara’s defiant double-ton (243) helping the team post 578/4 on the board. According to a report on Cricbuzz, Kishan, might just make his return to competitive cricket in Jharkhand’s Ranji fixture against Services in Delhi that gets underway on the 19th of this month before featuring in the England Tests. Rahul, meanwhile, had featured in both Tests in South Africa as the wicketkeeper-batter, scoring a century in the first Test in Centurion, but might play as a specialist batter in the England Tests.