India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been featuring in Team India across all formats but recently decided to opt out of the upcoming Test series against South Africa due to personal reasons.

According to a report by Indian Express, Ishan Kishan asked to be released from the team due to ‘mental fatigue’ as the 25-year-old has been travelling with team wihtout any break for almost a year now.

After Ishan’s request, the team management had reportedly talked to the selectors after which he was given permission to be released from the squad.

“He informed the team management that he is having mental fatigue and wants a break from cricket for some time. Everyone agreed to it” the report said.

Ishan has featured in every Indian squad since January 3 which can be physically draining considering the training regimes and traveling a player has to experience. With Shubman Gill missing out on the opening World Cup 2023 matches due to dengue fever, Ishan had stepped in to open alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.

🚨 UPDATE 🚨: Ishan Kishan withdrawn from #TeamIndia’s Test squad. KS Bharat named as replacement. #SAvIND

Details 🔽https://t.co/KqldTEeD0T

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 17, 2023

He also played a full season with 5-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians which consists of at least 2 matches in a week.

Ishan has been replaced by wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat for the series.

With the importance of mental health a critical factor in terms of how a player performs on the pitch, teams have now started to assess the physical as well as mental well being of players so that they could be available for the team in the best shape and mindset possible.

India’s squad for South Africa Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli,Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk),Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk)

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