Lifeline to Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan as BCCI includes pair in NCA's high performance monitoring programme

The Indian Cricket Board has granted Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan a lifeline following the central contract snub by adding them to the 30-member NCA’s High-Performance Monitoring Programme for the 2024-25 domestic season. Nearly two months ago, the BCCI excluded both from the central contract list as a punishment for missing the Ranji Trophy matches despite regular warnings from the board. However, Iyer and Ishan are now back in reckoning with their addition to this programme.

In a chat with the Times of India (TOI), a source close to the information said the board has nothing against both the players but will not accept their attitude towards disregarding the domestic structure, which the BCCI secretary Jay Shah said is a yardstick for selection in the Indian Team. 

However, the source also added that the board could restore their central contracts and recall them to the Indian Team, given their performances are up to the mark, adding that these two match winners are on Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee’s radar.

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"The BCCI, or the national selection committee has nothing against Iyer and Kishan. If they improve their attitude towards domestic cricket and turn out for their state teams (Mumbai and Jharkhand) in the forthcoming domestic season, there's every chance that their central contracts will be restored; they will be recalled into the Indian team if they perform well. This is a signal to them that they are on the radar of the selectors," an unnamed BCCI source said, as quoted by TOI.

Per the report, the board has also included Musheer Khan – brother of Sarfaraz Khan, who played a handy role in helping Mumbai clinch the Ranji Trophy title for the record 42nd time this season. 

Laxman to lead the camp

The source said the dates are yet to get finalised, with the chosen 30 to undergo a month-long camp under NCA head VVS Laxman’s guidance. 

"At some stage (dates aren't finalised) these 30 selected players for NCA's high-performance programme are likely to undergo around a month-long camp at the new state-of-the-art NCA facility near Bengaluru under chairman VVS Laxman. The new NCA will be launched by the BCCI in August. Most of these players have done well in domestic cricket," the source added.

Besides these star players, others included are seamers Umran Malik, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan and others, while Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag, Ashutosh Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Kishore and Prithvi Shaw are among them too.