Duleep Trophy 2024: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to Decide Their Participation
The Duleep Trophy, one of India’s prestigious domestic cricket tournaments, is set to begin on September 5, 2024. This tournament will serve as a crucial opportunity for India’s Test regulars to fine-tune their skills ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which starts on September 19. Notably, senior cricketers like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been given the option to participate or opt out of the tournament, with the final decision left entirely to them.
Initially, the Duleep Trophy was scheduled to kick off with two first-round matches in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. However, logistical challenges prompted the BCCI to relocate one of these matches to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This decision was made to better accommodate some of India’s top players, allowing them to get a feel for red-ball cricket before the crucial Test series against Bangladesh. Anantapur, being approximately 230 kilometers away from Bengaluru and lacking direct flight connectivity, posed travel difficulties, making Bengaluru a more suitable venue.
The BCCI’s move aligns with its strategy to ensure that top players remain involved in domestic competitions whenever possible. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been given the choice to participate, several other prominent players are expected to feature in the tournament. These include Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav. Their participation, whether full or partial, will bolster the tournament’s profile and provide them with valuable match practice ahead of the international fixtures.
On the other hand, some key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin are not expected to participate in the Duleep Trophy at any stage. Both are likely to join the national team directly for the Bangladesh series, skipping the domestic tournament altogether. Similarly, Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from surgery, will also be absent from this year’s Duleep Trophy.
In an exciting development, the selectors are contemplating giving wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant an opportunity to return to red-ball cricket through the Duleep Trophy. This could mark Pant’s first red-ball appearance since his return from a serious car accident in 2022. Although Pant has been active in India’s white-ball cricket setup and even participated in the T20 World Cup, his return to the longer format would be a significant milestone in his recovery and career progression.
The availability of these top players for the Duleep Trophy will, however, depend on the dates of a preparatory camp that the Indian team management is planning to hold in Chennai ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh. The final squad selections and player participation in the Duleep Trophy will be influenced by the schedule of this camp, ensuring that the players are in peak form for the international series.
The BCCI’s decision to shift the match location to Bengaluru not only eases logistical challenges but also aligns with its broader vision of promoting domestic cricket and providing top players with competitive match practice. This approach is evident from the participation of players like Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, who have made themselves available for the Buchi Babu Trophy starting August 15.
As the Duleep Trophy approaches, all eyes will be on whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli decide to participate. Their involvement would undoubtedly add star power to the tournament and provide invaluable experience to the younger players. Regardless of their decision, the Duleep Trophy promises to be a crucial precursor to India’s Test series against Bangladesh, offering a platform for players to showcase their skills and stake their claim for a spot in the national team.