Sanjay Manjrekar recently weighed in on the absence of top Indian cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah from the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024. Taking to social media, Manjrekar pointed out that over the past five years, India has played 249 international matches, yet these stars have participated in only a fraction of them.
Rohit Sharma has featured in 59% of the games, Kohli in 61%, and Bumrah in just 34%. His argument is that, despite being well-rested compared to other players, they should have been included in the domestic red-ball tournament to sharpen their skills.]
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“India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61% & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well-rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep Trophy,” Manjrekar tweeted, sparking a discussion on the importance of match practice.
India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61 % & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep trophy.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) August 28, 2024
The 61st edition of the Duleep Trophy, set to take place from September 5 to September 22, has seen a format change. Instead of the traditional zonal teams, four national teams—A, B, C, and D—have been selected by the national committee. Leading these squads are prominent names like Shubman Gill, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shreyas Iyer.
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While Kohli and Rohit were recently in action during India’s 2-0 ODI series loss to Australia, Bumrah has been absent from competitive cricket since the T20 World Cup final in June. Their absence from the Duleep Trophy raises questions, especially when other key players such as KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh are participating.
Manjrekar’s comments highlight the delicate balance between resting players and ensuring they remain match-fit, especially as India gears up for future challenges.
