Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit has touted Shreyas Iyer to make a comeback in Team India's scheme of things.
Shreyas Iyer, the captain of the two-time champions, was surprisingly left out by the BCCI from the central contract list. Alongside Iyer, MI and India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan also saw his name removed from the list.
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Some reports suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were fuming upon learning that Iyer had allegedly faked an injury to make himself unavailable for the Ranji Trophy games. BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah clarified earlier this year, the importance of domestic red-ball cricket for India's centrally-contracted players.
However, KKR head coach, Chandrakant Pandit was taken by surprise when he learnt about Iyer's situation with the central contract. Pandit also added another aspect to Iyer's intriguing case and clarified in his defence.
How did Chandrakant Pandit react to Shreyas Iyer missing out on BCCI Central contract?
Chandrakant Pandit was shocked to know when the captain of his IPL franchise, Shreyas Iyer, missed out on his BCCI Central Contract. He commented how Iyer is one of those players who could serve the nation in all three formats.
Speaking to Mid-Day, Pandit said,
I will not say Shreyas must be included in a certain Grade, but he is definitely a player who can serve India in any format. He has had an injury issue, but it was solved. He is a good performer and even scored a century [105 against New Zealand in 2021 at Kanpur] on Test debut.
Pandit called it "surprising" when he was asked to react to Iyer missing out on the favoured pool of cricketers for the Central Contract.
He added,
It's surprising that Shreyas was not considered for the annual contracts, because he is India's all-format player. We don't know the reason, but I think he should walk into the pool of India's contracted players. He could have definitely fitted in any Grade. Knowing Shreyas, I don't think it will affect him. He will definitely fight and perform. He has that fighting spirit.
MORE: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and star players who missed out on BCCI central contracts
What next for Shreyas Iyer?
Shreyas Iyer is expected to feature for the Mumbai Team in the Ranji Trophy. The cricketer has been cleared fit to feature in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu. The four-day match is scheduled to kickstart on March 02, 2024.
MORE: Shreyas Iyer to play Ranji Trophy
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