To ensure a steady stream of talent, India needs to keep its first-class cricket in good health.
Two days later, the BCCI omitted Kishan and Iyer from the list of centrally contracted players for 2023/24. And with it came a directive that read, “The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team.”
Rohit reiterated that view when asked on the eve of the fifth Test. “There has been talk about this for a long, long time. That when the players are available, they’ve got to make themselves available to play domestic cricket, unless they have been given a certificate from the medical group that they want to be rested or will not be taking part in domestic cricket. But if you’re available, if you’re fit, if you’re fine, I think it is important that we go and play that. It is not for just a few cricketers, it is for everyone to make sure that whenever you’re available and fine, you should be able to play domestic cricket,” he told reporters.
