Jay Shah warns of 'severe implications' for skipping domestic red-ball games in letter to top Indian cricketers

Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, wrote a letter to all centrally contracted cricketers as well as the India A cricketers urging them to compete in domestic cricket matches, adding that non-participation would carry “severe implications”.

Jay Shah goes onto state that the main purpose of the letter was regarding the worrying trend that players have often begun to prioritise IPL over domestic cricket. Jay Shah’s letter comes after some cricketers, including Ishan Kishan reportedly skipped the final round of Ranji Trophy group matches for Jharkhand, opting to play in DY Patil T20 following a BCCI diktat.

“There is a recent trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport,” Shah states in the letter, as reported by the Indian Express.

“Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset – every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic cricket remains a critical yardstick for selection and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications,” the letter adds.

Shah adds in the letter that there were concerns regarding the “health and concerns of our domestic cricket”. Shah added that while the BCCI were happy about the IPL’s success over the years, it was important for players to prioritise domestic cricket as an important step towards representing India.

Shah gave the example of Sunil Gavaskar, who took every opportunity to represent his state in domestic tournaments. “Legends like Sunil Gavaskar exemplified this dedication, playing club cricket the morning they arrived from an international tour. Domestic cricket was seen not just as a commitment but as a responsibility and a source of pride,” said Shah.

Jay Shah had clarified earlier in the week that the board would not accept any excuses from players who skip playing red-ball domestic cricket and reiterated that he would write letters to the players who do so.