Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan's Exclusion From BCCI Contracts Has Fans Reacting With Memes

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have found themselves conspicuously absent from the recently unveiled list of 30 centrally contracted players by the BCCI on Wednesday (February 28). Despite Iyer’s impressive record as India’s third-highest scorer in the 2023 World Cup and Kishan’s claim to fame with the fastest double century in ODI history, their failure to adhere to BCCI regulations has landed them in hot water. Once hailed as promising additions to the Indian cricket squad, they now face the stark reality of being sidelined from central contracts, casting a shadow over their prospects of making a swift return to the limelight.

Naturally, cricket enthusiasts took to social media to react to the news, infusing the digital sphere with a blend of memes and jests.

Yet, amidst the banter, a wave of sympathy and support emerged for Iyer and Kishan.

“Only ungrateful Indians are not supporting Shreyas Iyer tonight!!” exclaimed one supporter. Another pointedly reminded the cricketing community of the arduous quest for a stable No. 4 batter in ODI cricket, asserting, “The BCCI may think they have thousands of ready players, but they must remember it took them over six years to find a stable No. 4 batter in ODI cricket. Shreyas Iyer didn’t deserve this ….”.

A third enthusiast confidently proclaimed, “Haters gonna hate…players gonna play! Ishan has done it before and he’s gonna do it again! Waiting for him to make a great comeback and shut all these haters up!”

Kishan’s absence from the selection was attributed to his decision to take a mid-tour break during the South Africa series, subsequently leading to his exclusion from the T20Is against Afghanistan and the ongoing Test series against England. India’s head coach Rahul Dravid emphasised Kishan’s need to demonstrate availability for selection by actively participating in domestic cricket.

Also Read: ‘Shreyas Iyer Real ID Se Aao’: This Umpire Looks Eerily Like Indian Cricketer and Fans Have Field Day

Meanwhile, Iyer’s journey saw him participating in the initial two Tests against England before being omitted from the squad for the subsequent three matches. The BCCI remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind his exclusion. However, he continued to be absent from Ranji Trophy matches, representing his state team, Jharkhand.

Thus, following their exclusion from the contracts list, the Board recommended, “BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team,” highlighting the significance of domestic cricket in honing their skills and reclaiming their spots in the national squad.