Irani Cup: Ishan Kishan in Rest of India squad

MUMBAI: Ishan Kishan’s resurgence in red-ball cricket is gathering steam. On Monday, the national selectors picked the wicketkeeper-batsman, who hasn’t played for India since returning from India’s tour of South Africa in December last year, in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup clash against Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from October 1–5.
In February this year, Kishan had lost his BCCI contract due to failure to turn up for Ranji Trophy matches for Jharkhand. However, the left-hander cracked a hundred for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Tournament and two weeks ago, followed that up with a counter-attacking century in his comeback first-class match in the Duleep Trophy. It helped him pip Sanju Samson, who too scored a ton in the Duleep Trophy.
Apart from Kishan, the other wicketkeeper in the ROI squad is Dhruv Jurel, who has been picked subject to India not picking him for the second Test in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. Another man continuing his red ball resurgence is Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna, who impressed in the Duleep Trophy while bowling for India A, helping them win the title with his three wickets.
One man who can consider himself unlucky to have been ignored from the ROI squad is Haryana leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked 18 wickets for Northamptonshire in the English County Championship recently, with the selectors preferring to pick leggie Rahul Chahar instead.
Meanwhile, showing yet again that it has begun prioritizing participation in domestic cricket now, the BCCI on Monday announced that it will release batsman Sarfaraz Khan, Jurel and left-arm pacer Yash Dayal from the squad for the Kanpur Test, subject to them not being selected in the XI, to enable the trio to play in the Irani Cup tie, which will be played in nearby Lucknow around almost the same time.
"Dhruv Jurel and Yash Dayal have been selected in the Rest of India squad and their participation is subject to them not being involved in the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur. The 2nd Test will begin from 27th September. Sarfaraz Khan, who has been retained in the Team India squad for the 2nd Test, will be released to represent the Mumbai team subject to him not being involved in the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur," BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated in a release, while announcing a 15-man ROI squad, led by Maharashtra’s India opener Ruturaj Gaikwad for the important domestic fixture.
TOI had reported on September 24 that the BCCI will release Sarfaraz from the national squad for the Kanpur Test, in order to enable the batsman to turn out for the upcoming Irani Cup tie.
Dube could be available for Mumbai too
Additionally, led by former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane, Mumbai are also likely to enjoy the services of India allrounder Shivam Dube, if he isn't picked for India's home T20I series against Bangladesh, which starts on October 6. "Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube will join the team if released from India duties," the Mumbai Cricket Association informed in a release. As expected, a fit-again Shardul Thakur and Shreyas Iyer are available for Mumbai. Middle-order batsman Siddhesh Lad, who had left Mumbai to play for Goa, has been recalled.
Mumbai give maiden call-ups to four players, including 17-year-old Ayush
Meanwhile, in a bid to provide them with big-match exposure, Mumbai's selectors, led by Sanjay Patil on Monday gave maiden call-ups to 17-year-old batsman Ayush Mhatre, off-spinner Himanshu Singh, who was recently called up to bowl in the Team India nets before the Chennai Test against Bangladesh, pacer Mohd Juned Khan and wicketkeeper-batsman Sidhaant Addhatrao while naming a 16-member squad for the Irani Cup tie.
Ayush, a talented teenaged batsman, who hails from Virar, had put in an impressive performance for Mumbai as an opener in the recently-held Dr (Capt) K Thimmappiah Memorial Tournament, where he scored 271 runs in three [email protected], including one century (173 against Gujarat) and one fifty. Like Ayush, Juned Khan too played for Mumbai's second-strong team in Bangalore.
"Both Ayush and Juned come from extremely humble backgrounds. Juned has been a net bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the recent past. He has done well for PJ Hindu Gymkhana in local cricket. He isn't an exceptional bowler, but bowls a decent line and length. Juned's selection was also hastened due to the unavailability of pacer Tushar Deshpande due to an ankle injury, for which he will undergo a surgery at the end of this month," a source told TOI.
Mumbai squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Musheer Khan, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhessh Lad, Suryansh Shedge, Hardik Tamore (WK), Sidhaant Addhatrao (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Avasthi, Mohd. Juned Khan, Royston Dias.
Rest of India squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Ricky Bhui, Shashwat Rawat, Khaleel Ahmed, Rahul Chahar.