Kishan prioritizes NCA trip over Duleep Trophy clash: Reports

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who was part of the setup in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, has opted to check into the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ahead of the full-fledged tour against West Indies. With the Indian team set to depart on July 3, there was an opportunity for the southpaw to feature in East Zone’s Duleep Trophy curtain-raiser. 

Duleep Trophy is set to kick-off on June 28, with the final of the competition scheduled from July 12-16. But Kishan has, instead, opted to head to NCA, where he will provide an update on his fitness status. East Zone are set to clash with Central Zone in the first quarter-final at Alur in Bengaluru. 

Not only would that have provided Kishan with the perfect opportunity to showcase his red-ball skills, given KS Bharat’s form with the bat for India. The southpaw last played a competitive clash on May 26 for Mumbai Indians during their Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, where he didn’t get an opportunity to bat.