'Even Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play domestic cricket when free' - Kirti Azad

Renowned former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad has voiced his support for the BCCI's non-negotiable decree encouraging cricketers to prioritize first-class cricket over franchise-based leagues like the IPL.

The BCCI recently snubbed Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contracts due to both players missing out on the Ranji Trophy matches. Azad supports the BCCI's decision, suggesting that players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should also partake in Ranji Trophy matches.

“It (directive) is a very good move. Everybody should be playing Ranji Trophy cricket, but currently the emphasis is on the IPL. It is good; it is entertaining, but the real cricket is the (five) days' cricket. Playing in domestic cricket is good, it keeps you in touch. But whenever you are free, even if you're a Rohit Sharma or a Virat Kohli, you should go back and play domestic cricket for the state,” Azad was quoted as saying by India Today. 

Also read: Explained: Why Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer were left out of BCCI central contract?

“That (state) gave you the opportunity to be a player, get selected, and then play for the country. Just to penalise the two is not correct, I think everybody should be penalised. Everybody should be seen with the same mirror,” he added. 

All these senior Test team players would play for their sides: Kirti Azad

Furthermore, Azad reminisced about the first-class cricket scenario during his tenure with the Indian cricket team, recalling that stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar and Bishan Singh Bedi among others were actively involved in domestic red-ball cricket alongside him and Ravi Shastri, taking immense pride in representing their state teams, something which seems devoid in the young players of today's day-and-age.

Also read: Why BCCI released Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer but retained Hardik Pandya in central contracts list?

“Back in the days, when we were starting our careers, players like Bishan Singh Bedi, Madan Lal, Surinder Amarnath, Mohinder Amarnath, Chetan Chauhan, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandeep Patil, Karsan Ghavri played alongside youngsters like me and Ravi Shastri. All these senior Test team players would play for their sides, would play for the pride of their state which seems missing in the youngsters nowadays,” Azad said.