Ajay Jadeja takes a jab over unjust Ishan Kishan treatment

While the apex cricket council of India is preparing a contract extension for their existing head coach Rahul Dravid after the completion of the World Cup ODI 2023, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief and ex-Indian cricketer VVS Laxman coached a second-string Indian team for the five-match T20I series against Australia. Under his mentorship and the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, Team India defeated Australia 4-1 in the T20I series.

India were without the likes of usual skipper Rohit Sharma, ex-captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah still managed to achieve such a massive feat. Also, Shreyas Iyer was rested for the first three games and joined as the vice-captain of the side for the final two clashes against the Aussies. Notably, out of all speculations and criticisms, Iyer had featured as a great middle-order support in all of the 11 matches of India’s World Cup campaign. 

While Iyer was playing a crucial role as the No.3 batter in the 4th and 5th T20I, the Indian side decided to drop Ishan Kishan from its Starting XI after the 3rd T20I of the 5-match series. Throwing light on the Men in Blue’s performance under the mentorship of Laxman, ex-cricketer Ajay Jadeja questioned the non-selection of opener Ishan Kishan. Also, the young Indian sensation hardly played in Team India’s World Cup campaign.

"There was a series right after the World Cup. Ishan Kishan played three matches and went home. Was he that tired after three matches that he needed rest? He didn't even play a lot of games at the World Cup. He deserved his spot in the playing XI for the first few World Cup matches. How many Indian players have scored a double-century on a good day? He can change the game on his day. When will he get ready? Will you keep him on trial all the time? In the last two years, how many games has he played? This problem of Indian cricket is not of today, it is very old that we don’t select (players) but reject them," Jadeja told Sports Tak.

Kishan's performance against Australia

Ishan registered a 5-ball duck in the 3rd T20I against Australia in Guwahati. Yet, notably, the star Indian batter played a firecracker knock of 58 runs in just 39 balls at Visakhapatnam followed by 52 off 32 deliveries in the 2nd T20I at Trivandrum. The Indian gloveman averaged 36.67 as he registered 110 runs in the 3rd innings. "Ishan Kishan didn't even play the entire five-match T20I series against Australia. He was sent home after three matches to rest. So, if this will continue, how will you ensure that he is fully ready?" Jadeja added.