Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan find themselves excluded from the BCCI's annual retainers due to their recent absence from national duties.

who took a hiatus for personal reasons during the South Africa tour, made his return only this week at the DY Patil T20 tournament. Meanwhile, Iyer, though cleared fit by the NCA before the ongoing Test series, remained absent from both national and domestic duties.

The BCCI's decision comes in the wake of a stern letter from Secretary Jay Shah, urging players to prioritise national commitments over the IPL and domestic tournaments.

The letter highlighted the potential "severe implications" of neglecting national duties. Notably, the BCCI's contract announcement release concluded with a noteworthy recommendation for all athletes to prioritise domestic cricket during breaks from national team duties.

India's skipper Rohit Sharma also emphasised the significance of Test cricket during a press conference following the Ranchi Test, stating that players demonstrating "hunger" for the format would receive priority in selection. Sharma acknowledged the demanding nature of asserting the need for players to exhibit the requisite desire. Reflecting on Kishan's absence from the Test squad against England, head coach Rahul Dravid had clarified that Kishan had not made himself available and would need to engage in domestic cricket to be considered for a return.