Ishan Kishan has garnered attention due to his absence during the South Africa Tour and subsequent exclusion from the India vs Afghanistan T20I series.
While speculations arose regarding disciplinary issues, Indian cricket team coach Rahul Dravid refuted such claims before the first T20I against the Afghans.
During a pre-match press conference, Dravid clarified that there was no disciplinary action taken against Kishan. Instead, Kishan had requested a break during the South Africa Tour, which the team supported. Dravid mentioned that Kishan has not yet made himself available for selection and emphasized the importance of playing domestic cricket before a comeback.
"No Absolutely not (no disciplinary action). Ishan Kishan was not available for selection. Ishan Kishan requested for a break in South Africa, which we agreed to and supported, and recognised. He has not yet made himself available for selection. I am sure when he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection," Dravid said.
However, when PTI inquired about Kishan's availability for the Ranji Trophy, Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) secretary Debasish Chakraborty stated that Kishan had not contacted them or expressed his availability.
“No, Ishan hasn't contacted us or told us anything about his availability. Whenever he tells us, he will walk into the playing XI,” Chakraborty told PTI.
However, it has been reported that Kishan is eyeing a return for the five-Test series starting on January 25 in Hyderabad. To adhere to the team management's policy, Ishan may make himself available for Jharkhand's upcoming fixture against Services in Delhi from January 19.
Whereas, KS Bharat will play in the A series against England Lions in Ahmedabad to get himself in match mode ahead of the England series.
To alleviate KL Rahul from dual responsibilities of wicket-keeping and batting, the team management aims to have him focus on his batting, especially in the challenging conditions of turning Indian pitches. Given Rahul's recent back surgery, he has been advised to rest, skipping the Ranji Trophy.
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What is the schedule for the India vs England Test series?
The schedule for the Test series between India and England is as follows.
1st Test: January 25-29
2nd Test: February 2-6
3rd Test: February 15-19
4th Test: February 23-27
5th Test: March 7-11
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Which venues are hosting the India vs England Test series?
The stadiums which are set to host the five Tests are as follows.
1st Test: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
2nd Test: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
3rd Test: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
4th Test: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi
5th Test: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala
How to watch the India vs England Test series live from India?
The match will be broadcasted on TV by the Sports18 network, who acquired the rights to broadcast India's home games in 2023 in a five-year deal. Meanwhile, fans can stream the matches online for free on JioCinema.
| Tournament | Dates | Online stream | TV Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs England Test Series | January 25, 2024 - March 11, 2024 | JioCinema | Sports18 SD & HD (English), Colors (Tamil, Bangla, Kannada), Colors Cineplex Superhits (Hindi) |
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