India Head Coach Rahul Dravid Addresses the reason behind absense of Ishan Kishan KS Bharat’s Performance
India’s head coach Rahul Dravid provided insights into the situation surrounding keeper-bat continued absence of Ishan Kishan from India’s squads, emphasizing the importance of allowing the 25-year-old to return at his own pace.
Kishan, who made his Test debut in the West Indies last year, was not included in the squad for the first two Tests against England after requesting a personal break.
Despite being part of India’s T20I squad on their tour of South Africa in December, Kishan did not feature in any games. Subsequently, he was released from the squad for the two-Test series against South Africa and has not participated in international or domestic cricket since then.
Speaking after India’s series-levelling win in Visakhapatnam, Dravid addressed Kishan’s situation, stating, “There’s a way back for anyone and everyone. It’s not that we rule out anybody from anything.”
READ MORE: Rahul Dravid says Missed Opportunities Lead to Test Defeat
Dravid reiterated that Kishan had requested a break, and the team respected his decision. He emphasized that the choice to return to cricket rested with Kishan, adding, “We’re not forcing him to do anything, and we are in touch with him.”
“It’s not that we’re not in touch. We know what it is, but he hasn’t yet started playing, right? So, at the moment, it’s not something that we would consider because, you know, he’s maybe not ready.”
“He decides when he wants to be ready and we’ve got options obviously with Rishabh [Pant] injured and stuff. So I’m sure the selectors will weigh all the options.”
Dravid highlighted the importance of Kishan playing cricket when he felt ready but acknowledged that his absence had created opportunities for other players, including KS Bharat, who was selected as the first-choice wicketkeeper for the two Tests against South Africa.
While Bharat has showcased proficiency behind the stumps, his batting performances have been inconsistent, prompting Dravid to acknowledge the need for improvement.
“Young players need time to develop and they’re growing at their own pace,” Dravid remarked. He acknowledged Bharat’s potential but stressed the importance of seizing opportunities and delivering impactful performances in Test cricket.
Dravid acknowledged the challenges Bharat faced, including playing on difficult tracks, but encouraged him to make meaningful contributions with the bat when opportunities arose.
As for now, Ishan Kishan has an uncertain future in Indian cricket team and there is no one to blame. Perhaps, he didn’t receive as much backing as other players did but in possible case, he shouldn’t made himself distant from cricket arena.
