Kohli and Rohit Set to Star in Duleep Trophy as BCCI Shifts Focus to Domestic Cricket

September 5: Duleep Trophy Kicks Off with High-Profile Players In a significant move for Indian cricket, senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to participate in the Duleep Trophy, starting September 5. This will mark a rare domestic appearance for the star duo, who are usually seen mainly in international and IPL fixtures. Their involvement is expected to bring increased attention and competitiveness to the tournament.

Major Names Join the Domestic Battle

Alongside Kohli and Rohit, other prominent Indian cricketers including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav will also feature in the Duleep Trophy. This influx of top talent is aimed at enhancing the tournament’s profile and preparing players for future international challenges.

Jasprit Bumrah Given Rest Amid Busy Schedule

Notably, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been exempted from participating in the Duleep Trophy. With India facing a rigorous schedule of 10 Test matches in the next four months, including a challenging series against Australia, the selectors are opting to rest Bumrah to avoid overexertion. The pitches in Bangladesh are expected to favor spinners, making the rest period for Bumrah particularly strategic.

Direct Selection and New Venue Plans

For this edition of the Duleep Trophy, national selectors will bypass zonal teams and directly select squads for the four participating teams: India A, India B, India C, and India D. The opening matches will be held in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, despite limited flight services. However, considering the senior players’ involvement, there is also consideration for relocating some matches to Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Preparation for Bangladesh Test Series

The Duleep Trophy will conclude on September 24, just before the first Test against Bangladesh begins in Chennai on September 19. Following the tournament, a training camp will be conducted in Chennai to prepare the Indian squad for the upcoming Test series, emphasizing the critical nature of this domestic preparation.