'Not Picked Up The Phone And...': Aakash Chopra Slams Ishan Kishan 

image-lsecv03cIshan Kishan [X.com]

Aakash Chopra came out in defence of Indian team management and coach Rahul Dravid amidst allegations of forging a rift with absent wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who has been on a break due to "personal reasons" since December. 

Speculations have been rife whether Kishan has taken a leave of absence to rejuvenate himself mentally or been cast out by the Indian team management due to disciplinary reasons, the latter resulting in accusations which Dravid has been forced to respond in press conferences.

In his latest interaction with the media following the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, Dravid said Kishan needs to make himself available and play some form of cricket first for the selectors and the management to bring him back in the side. 

Chopra Slams Kishan Over Miscommunication 

All that while the Jharkhand cricketer has himself kept mum about his break and is currently training in Baroda with his Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya without playing in the Ranji Trophy to claim the backup wicketkeeper's role back in the Test squad.


"What Rahul has said is absolutely correct. Rahul Dravid has said that he should make available first and secondly, he needs to play some cricket, as he can't be picked for India if he is not playing any cricket. If it had been the period of June-July, it would have been acceptable," Chopra, the former India batter, said on his YouTube channel. 

"However, the Ranji Trophy is happening at the moment, so if first-class cricket is happening, he needs to play there to show his availability. In fact, he has not even picked up the phone and told anyone that he is available," he added. 

Kishan's last piece of action for India came in late November when he played a pair of T20Is from the series against Australia. Since then, the aggressive young batter has missed the entire tour of South Africa and refused to put himself in contention for the ongoing five-match home Test series against England.