Ishant Sharma asked Delhi team not to build season around him, reveals DDCA official

With a key tour of New Zealand coming up in February and the 31-year-old four Tests away from his milestone, Ishant has opted to skip the opening rounds of Delhi's Ranji Trophy matches starting on December 9. And sources close to the state team understand that he is wary of the impact the added workload will have on his body. 

"He has been playing for 12 years. He is wary of the workload now. He bowls at full tilt whenever he plays for Delhi. He is at the prime of his career at the moment. He wants to play well beyond 100 Tests for India and keep this form. He has informed the Delhi team management to not chalk their plans this season completely around him," sources told TOI.

Delhi chief selector Atul Wassan further clarified that the Indian team management did not release Ishant to play in the domestic tournament.

"We were informed that the Indian cricket board (BCCI) didn't release him to play Ranji Trophy for now. We were just told that he is unavailable. He's probably going to NCA to train and look after his body. We have not been told when he will be available to play," Wassan said.

Ishant, who bowled 136 overs in Test cricket this year, maybe a part of India A’s shadow tour of New Zealand before the main series begins to help him get back in shape. The Men in Blue head to New Zealand in February for a two-match series, but with Ishant’s next assignment not coming until the tour of Australia in December 2020, he is likely to play a couple of Ranji matches to get some match practice.