Ravichandran Ashwin has spoken openly about the BCCI’s inside politics affecting young players. The former Indian spinner discussed Ishan Kishan’s current struggles in cricket. Ashwin revealed how internal issues impacted Kishan’s international career badly.
Kishan was once India’s brightest young talent. He captained India’s U19 team in the 2016 World Cup final. His career looked extremely promising back then.
The Fall From Grace
The Ishan Kishan Story began when he withdrew from the South Africa tour. He cited mental fatigue as his reason for stepping back. This decision changed everything for the talented wicketkeeper-batsman.
Kishan last played for India in November 2023. The BCCI dropped him from all national squads afterwards. He lost his central contract in 2024 completely. These setbacks hurt his career progression significantly.
Yet Kishan’s achievements speak volumes about his capabilities. He scored 273 runs in one Ranji Trophy match once. This innings showed his immense batting talent. He also became the youngest player to score an ODI double century. His 210 runs against Bangladesh in 2022 broke records worldwide.
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Ashwin Reveals Unfortunate Timing
Ashwin highlighted how BCCI’s inside politics played a role here. The timing of Kishan’s exclusion looked suspicious to many observers. Rishabh Pant suffered an injury right after Kishan stepped away. India desperately needed a wicketkeeper then.
“If someone’s time isn’t good, you can’t say much. What happened with Ishan was unfortunate. He was part of the Test squad in South Africa but wasn’t in the right mental space, so he said he wanted to step away,” Ashwin said.
The Indian team respected that and allowed him to take a break. Then, during that same series, Rishabh Pant got injured and was hospitalised. It was just bad timing and bad circumstances for Ishan.”
The veteran spinner called this situation extremely unfortunate for Kishan. He believes internal board politics affected the young player’s chances. Ashwin thinks Kishan deserved better treatment from the cricket authorities.
Hope For Comeback Remains Strong
Kishan recently played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025. He scored 354 runs at an average of 35.40. His IPL performance showed he still has fighting spirit.
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Ashwin expressed strong confidence in Kishan’s potential comeback. He compared the Ishan Kishan Story to Shreyas Iyer’s successful return. Iyer bounced back strongly after facing similar setbacks earlier.
“I genuinely hope things turn around for him. Like Shreyas Iyer, who worked hard and made a comeback, Ishan too should score runs and return stronger as an important part of the Indian team,” he added.
The former spinner advised Kishan to stay disciplined now. Hard work and perseverance will help him regain his spot. Ashwin believes BCCI’s inside politics cannot stop real talent forever.
Cricket experts feel Kishan deserves another opportunity soon. His past records prove he belongs at the international level. Fans hope selectors will give him a fair chance again.
