The latest reports have emerged that captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli will feature in the upcoming Duleep Trophy for the 2024-25 season, much to Indian cricket fans’ delight. In the larger scheme of things for the crucial two-Test series against Bangladesh, both these stalwarts are going to use this domestic marquee tournament as a preparatory platform. The series will matter a great deal, as it may make India qualify for the finals of the World Test Championships for the third time in a row—the feat that the team would cherish.
The Ajit Agarkar-led senior selection committee has already conveyed that it would like all the regular players—including the big names—to make themselves available for the Duleep Trophy starting on September 5. The tournament is also going to have a different format this year in a bid to make it more competitive.
Therefore, it is expected that squads would include star-studded players like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav also being asked to participate. Star power surely adds a dash of excitement and intensity to the matches.
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However, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be a notable absentee. The selectors have logically agreed on granting him an extended rest period after his strenuous involvement in the IPL 2024 and the T20 World Cup. In fact, with India’s upcoming demanding schedule, management of his workload becomes very critical.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to play one match in the Duleep Trophy before the Test series against Bangladesh begins. This decision was confirmed by (Indian Express). pic.twitter.com/uuDh3aBBNb
— Udham Sinsini (@udhambharatpur) August 12, 2024
The selectors will debate the potential inclusion of Bumrah for the Bangladesh Tests, all the more so since India has a crammed Test calendar with 10 Tests over the next four months, culminating in a crucial series against Australia. The logistics of the Duleep Trophy are being worked out to fit these big stars into the tournament.
Although the main venue is Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] might still retain one round at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru due to better connectivity. The dates of the tournament will be from September 5 to September 24, clashing with the first Test against Bangladesh starting in Chennai on September 19.
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Still, Rohit and Kohli’s extent of involvement in the Duleep Trophy is yet to be clearly spelt out. It is still not decided whether they will be available for the opening match or join from the second round, commencing on September 12. The BCCI is also going to hold a short preparatory camp in Chennai before the Bangladesh series. This camp may, therefore, impact their preparation in the Duleep Trophy as both these players will be juggling these two commitments to make sure they are at their best going into the international games.
