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On an extended break, India’s talented wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan remains away from international cricket since he asked to be relieved from the tour of South Africa. Though India head coach Rahul Dravid sent Ishan a clear message, asking him to resume playing cricket of some form to be considered for selection again. But, reports suggest that the wicket-keeper batter has only been training with the Pandya brothers at the Reliance Stadium over the past couple of weeks. The lack of development in Ishan’s case has left former India opener Aakash Chopra worried.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra is hoping all is well with Kishan considering he had sought a break owing to mental fatigue.

“It’s been a long time since Ishan Kishan requested for the break. He has not played any competitive cricket. He is on an extended break. He has not played first-class cricket too. I really hope that he is good, he is fine and in a happy space because he had requested a break due to mental fatigue,” Aakash Chopra said.

As far as Ishan’s return is concerned, Chopra doesn’t feel that is possible until the player starts to play professional cricket, be it in the Ranji Trophy or some other tournament.

“I think he will get a chance to play for India only after he resumes playing competitive cricket. if he is not going to play for a while, the Indian team is not going to consider him. Regardless of whether of KS Bharat plays or not, whether Dhruv Jurel gets a chance or not, or someone like Jagadeesan gets in, you never know. But India won’t go toward Ishan until he starts playing competitive cricket again. They will try to maintain some protocols.

“And please don’t ask why is Virat Kohli not playing competitive cricket before returning. There is a difference between Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan. Let’s not go down that route,” he further said.