'Dig deep, face challenges': Ravi Shastri's inspirational message after Iyer and Kishan lose BCCI contracts

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its annual player contracts for 2023-24 on Wednesday. Team India skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja find themselves in the Grade A+ category, while Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have been two significant absentees who had their central contracts terminated. The duo are understood to have faced this after skipping Ranji Trophy fixtures despite being fit to play for their respective state outfits.

Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri while reacting on the news, backed the two cricketers to make a strong comeback. “In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you’ll conquer once again,” the ex-India cricketer posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

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In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up, @ShreyasIyer15 and @ishankishan51! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you'll conquer once again.

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 28, 2024

BCCI, in its statement, urged the cricketers to prioritise domestic cricket when not involved with the national side. “The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team,” said the statement.

“Athletes who meet the criteria of playing a minimum of 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is within the specified period will automatically be included in Grade C on a pro-rata basis. For instance, Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan, having played 2 Test matches so far, will be inducted into Grade C if they participate in the Dharamsala Test Match, i.e., the 5th Test of the ongoing series against England,” the BCCI statement added.

Kishan had opted out of the series against South Africa in December last year citing “personal reasons.” The young India wicketkeeper did not play for Jharkhand since and he reportedly faced an indirect rebuke from BCCI and skipper Rohit Sharma as well.

Timeline: What led to Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer losing BCCI contracts

Meanwhile, Iyer did play for Mumbai in domestic cricket and he was also included in the squad for the semi-finals. The middle-order batter had opted out of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal.

Both Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal secured promotion after excelling with the bat in the ongoing five-match Test series against England. While Gill was promoted to Grade A, Jaiswal became the newest entrant in Grade B.