An “upset” Ravi Bishnoi has severed ties with his state team Rajasthan and signed for Gujarat.
“New beginning @gcmotera,” the 22-year-old leg-spinner posted on his Instagram account on Monday along with a picture where he’s seen wearing the Gujarat team’s practice jersey.
Bishnoi, who has played 10 T20Is and an ODI, has already joined Gujarat’s pre-season camp in Ahmedabad. “He has submitted the NOC (No-objection Certificate) from Rajasthan and joined the camp today (Monday),” Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Anil Patel confirmed.
According to insiders at the Rajasthan Cricket Association, a prime reason behind Bishnoi’s decision was the lack of opportunities in last season’s Ranji Trophy campaign. “Out of the seven Ranji matches last season, Ravi was picked for only one. He didn’t even get a game in his hometown Jodhpur, which really upset him,” an insider said under cover of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak on the subject.
“That’s not all. People calling the shots here (at RCA) would want him to attend programmes connected with politics, which used to make him uncomfortable. He’s a cricketer and his job is to play. He doesn’t want to deal with anything that’s even remotely connected with politics. He thus felt the need to shift,” the insider added.
During this year’s IPL, the Lucknow Super Giants leg spinner got in touch with GCA officials in Ahmedabad. “He had told us that he wasn’t getting enough opportunities in Rajasthan. So, he requested if he could play for our side.
“We placed the matter before our team management and they agreed to include him in the squad,” GCA’s Patel said.
Rajasthan officials, on their part, said that performance-wise, Bishnoi didn’t merit a place in the XI. “First of all, we came to know that he had been trying to move over (to Gujarat) even before the start of last season,” RCA joint secretary Rajesh Badhana told The Telegraph.
“His performance wasn’t outstanding either. The other spinners in the side, including 20-year-old left-armer Manav Suthar, bowled better. Even on a turning track in Pondicherry, Bishnoi wasn’t effective enough. Even then, we had spoken to him. But he had already made up his mind.”
In his sole Ranji game last season, Bishnoi had match figures of 2/59.
