In a notable development for Indian cricket, there seems to be a shift in the wicketkeeping responsibilities for the Test format. Reports suggest that the team management is considering relieving KL Rahul of his keeping duties in Test matches, potentially opening the door for Ishan Kishan to step into the role during the upcoming five-match series against England, scheduled to commence on January 25.

However, there’s a condition attached to this opportunity – Kishan must prove his fitness in a Ranji Trophy match. Speculation arose when Kishan was apparently omitted from the Afghanistan T20Is despite being available for selection. There were murmurs of a potential rift between the player and the team management, but India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, dismissed any disciplinary concerns, asserting that Kishan was not available for selection due to a requested break granted during the South Africa tour.

Rahul Dravid clarified that once Kishan makes himself available, he will need to showcase his fitness in a first-class match before being considered for national selection. Earlier reports hinted at discontent within the team management after Kishan was seen partying in Dubai during his sanctioned break for ‘mental fatigue.’

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The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been seeking intermittent breaks from national duties since the ODI World Cup in the previous year. Despite not being a regular fixture in the playing XI, Kishan has made a significant impact whenever given the opportunity.

Under Rahul Dravid’s stewardship, the Indian team has implemented a policy requiring players to prove their fitness in domestic matches if they miss games due to injury or other reasons. While the policy wasn’t strictly followed last year, it appears to be back in force, creating media scrutiny around Kishan’s non-selection.

Ishan Kishan will be back into the national fold once he makes himself available for selection, but he must perform in domestic cricket, says Rahul Dravid. https://t.co/NIBqvwyrg4

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) January 10, 2024

The current situation leaves Kishan at a crucial juncture, with conflicting reports about his availability for the Ranji Trophy. While some sources suggest he might feature in Jharkhand’s upcoming fixture against Services from January 19, others indicate that he might bypass domestic cricket and, if not selected for the England series, directly participate in IPL 2024 for the Mumbai Indians.

In terms of the Test team dynamics, KL Rahul, who excelled in the role of a keeper-batter upon his return to the format, might be relieved of his wicketkeeping duties. The team management reportedly prefers a specialist keeper to handle the spin options on Indian pitches, leaving Rahul to focus on his role in the middle-order, likely at the No.5 spot.

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With Rishabh Pant still recovering from injuries and Wriddhiman Saha moving on, Ishan Kishan emerges as a potential candidate due to his experience in keeping during Test matches, having featured in 50 first-class games for Jharkhand. The competition includes KS Bharat, who is expected to play in unofficial tests against England Lions, with his performance likely to influence Kishan’s position in the pecking order.