IPL career can happen along with stint in first-class cricket: Sourav Ganguly

Former India Captain, Sourav Ganguly has highlighted the importance of balancing red-ball and white-ball cricket among young players. The former BCCI president, currently serving as the director of cricket for Delhi Capitals, expressed concerns over the exclusion of Ranji Trophy matches in preparation for the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

He emphasized that budding cricketers need exposure to both formats to hone their skills effectively. Ganguly, a pivotal figure in Indian cricket, noted that neglecting red-ball cricket contradicts the norm followed by players in the past. He instilled trust in the BCCI to address this matter appropriately. With his vast experience as a player and administrator, Ganguly's insights stressed the significance of cricketers' need to prioritize red-ball cricket.

“They can play both red-ball and white-ball. IPL career can happen along with a stint in first-class cricket. They don't clash. First-class cricket finishes and then there's almost a month before the IPL starts. I don't see any problem. A lot of the top-quality players play Test cricket and white-ball cricket. You look at Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant,” Ganguly said as quoted by Times of India.

“On the world stage, there's Mitchell Marsh. He is Australia's premier red-ball player now. Harry Brook plays red-ball cricket. David Warner played so much Test cricket but he was also one of the best white-ball players. Even in my days, Sachin, Rahul, and myself played Test cricket and then played white-ball cricket. There's no reason to say that you can play one and not the other,” he added.

Also Read: NCA will clear Rishabh Pant on March 5, says Sourav Ganguly

Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan face the axe after avoiding red-ball cricket

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan found themselves excluded from the BCCI's annual retainers’ contract due to their absence from national duty and domestic cricket. Kishan, taking a hiatus for personal reasons during the South Africa tour, returned to action recently in the DY Patil T20 tournament. On the other hand, Iyer, despite being declared fit by the NCA, did not make appearances for either India or Mumbai after his clearance.

The BCCI's secretary, Jay Shah, had previously cautioned centrally contracted players against prioritizing the IPL over national commitments and domestic cricket. Shah's letter emphasized the potential consequences of such actions. The exclusion of Iyer and Kishan highlighted the BCCI's stance on player availability and commitment to Test cricket, a stance reaffirmed through clear communication with players.