Ishan Kishan Told BCCI He Had Mental Fatigue But Was Seen Partying in Dubai

"Where is Ishan Kisan? Any news on his availability?" tweeted former India opener Aakash Chopra after India's squad for 3 match T20I series against Afghanistan was announced on Sunday was announced on Sunday.

Although Kishan is not regular in the eleven, he is one of the few Indian cricketers who has been part of the team in all formats for about a year now. Mr. Chopra's concerns were valid, but a little misplaced.

Ishan Kishan, who left South Africa before the Test series citing a family emergency, was shortlisted for Afghanistan's T20I squad but was not selected, according to a report in the Indian Express. The BCCI has not given reasons for excluding Kishan from the squad, which has Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma as wicketkeeper options, but the left-handed Kishan might have faced disciplinary action.

Kishan was seen training in Vadodara earlier this week, eliminating doubts about his fitness and mental fatigue. So why was he not selected? According to a report in Express, this is indeed the case.

Kishan reportedly felt dissatisfied and frustrated being on the bench despite making the most of the opportunities that came his way in all formats, especially ODIs and T20Is. Moreover, the attacking left-handed opening batsman had requested a break from the team management and BCCI selectors since last year's ODI World Cup, but it was not granted.

Unlike most other members of the World Cup squad, Kishan was selected for the T20I squad for the home series against Australia. He was given time off for the final two games but remained with the team. The 25-year-old then applied for a break from white-ball activities for the tour to South Africa, but was denied.

Ishan was seen partying in Dubai?

He had cited his mental fatigueness and family emergency but instead of resting he was seen partying.

“He told the team management that he has mental fatigue because he had been on the road continuously and wanted to spend time with his family back home. Instead, he chose to travel to Dubai and was seen partying,”
~a source quoted in the report.

Nonetheless, those near the player pose a counter inquiry:

“When he has been given a break, how does it matter where he spends his time? He wants to be away from the game as constant travelling and warming the bench has taken a toll mentally. And he was in Dubai for his brother’s birthday celebrations.”

Ishan in T20Is -

Kishan has only played 27 ODIs and 32 T20Is. In T20Is, Kishan has mostly opened with decent returns - at an average of 25 and a strike rate of 124 - but when asked to bat at No.3 in the last home series against Australia, he smashed consecutive half-centuries. Rishabh Pant's long-term absence due to injury left India without a consistent goalkeeper in the longest format. Kishan was given a chance to tour the West Indies after the team management lost faith in KS Bharat. Kishan batted three innings and scored a half-century. Just when it seemed that he might do decently in red-ball cricket, the team management decided to go for Rahul mainly due to his reliability in the middle order.