Jay Shah states that Chief Selector Agarkar was responsible for Kishan and Iyer not being included in central contracts.

Mumbai: In recent news, the decision to exclude Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the list of centrally contracted players was brought to light by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who revealed that the final call was made by chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. Shah emphasized that no player is irreplaceable in the team.

The two players were dropped from the list due to their absence from domestic engagements, despite being directed by the BCCI to participate. While Kishan took an extended break after the ODI World Cup last year and only returned for the IPL, Iyer did play a few matches for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, including the semifinal and final. However, his decision to attend a Kolkata Knight Riders' camp in Mumbai during a Ranji Trophy fixture led to his exclusion as well.

During a media interaction at the BCCI headquarters, Shah clarified that the decision ultimately lies with the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, and his role is to simply implement it. He also mentioned that new players like Sanju have been brought in, proving that no player is indispensable. Shah reiterated the importance of prioritizing domestic cricket for Indian players.

Prior to the contract snub, Shah had previously stated his support for the chief selector's decision in taking action against players who do not comply with the Indian captain and team management's requirement for participating in domestic cricket. He also mentioned that he had personally spoken with Kishan and Iyer after their exclusion.

Shah also brought attention to the high scores in this year's IPL and stated that ultimately, it comes down to a player's performance and consistency. He used the example of Ishan Kishan, who may have struggled to secure a spot in the Indian team but has been performing well for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He emphasized the pressure of playing for Team India and how only those who can handle it and deliver consistent performances can be considered the right players.

He also touched upon his conversation with Kishan after Mumbai Indians' match against Gujarat Titans, clarifying that it was simply a friendly talk and not an advice session. As for the rumored increase in match fees for domestic players, Shah denied any such plans, stating that the pay has already been increased and Test cricket has been incentivized. He mentioned that the pay was increased by 100% in 2022.

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