"Due to lack of communication, some decisions didn't go in my favor" - Shreyas Iyer breaks silence on BCCI contract snub
Team India batter and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his fitness and other issues which resulted in him not getting a central contract from the BCCI. The batter opined that the problems arose due to lack of communication.
Under Shreyas' captaincy, KKR won the IPL for the third time, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets in the final of the 2024 edition at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Bowling first, Kolkata bowled out Hyderabad for 113 in 18.3 overs and then gunned down the target in 10.3 overs.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Shreyas said that he wanted to take a break after a terrific ODI World Cup to work on his fitness. However, things went awry due to certain communication issues.
"I had a terrific World Cup and I wanted to take a break after that and wanted to work on my body and build some strength around certain area. Due to lack of communication, there were some decisions, that didn't go in my favour," the 29-year-old batter said.
He, however, asserted that he was focused on winning the Ranji Trophy and the IPL and not thinking about what had transpired before that.
"I realized that the bat is going to be in my hand and it's on me to perform and win trophies. I decided that once I win Ranji Trophy and IPL that would be an apt answer for whatever happened in the past and thankfully everything fell to right place. I am grateful, how it happened," Shreyas added.
The KKR skipper scored 351 runs in 14 matches in IPL 2024 at a strike rate of 146.86, with two half-centuries. Before that, he hammered 95 off 111 in the second innings of the Ranji Trophy 2024 final, representing Mumbai against Vidarbha.
Why Shreyas Iyer was not handed a BCCI central contract
Shreyas, who has had his fair share of fitness issues, was part of the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England. He was dropped from the team for the next three matches due to his poor form.
The BCCI specifically asked the centrally contracted Indian players to play domestic cricket if they are not injured. Shreyas skipped the quarterfinal of the Ranji Trophy amid contrasting reports. Some claimed he pulled out of the game, while others stated that he was nursing a back issue.
While announcing the updated list of centrally contracted players, the BCCI left out Shreyas and mentioned through an official press release that domestic cricket was mandatory for those who wish to play for the national side.