New Delhi: Star Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not feature in the Duleep Trophy 2024 as the selectors and BCCI want them fresh for the upcoming Test matches.
The Men in Blue will face Bangladesh in the two-match Test series starting September 19. After that, Team India will take on New Zealand in the three-match Test series. Rohit and Co. will also tour Australia for the five-match Test series in late November.
The Duleep Trophy will start on September 5 in Bengaluru and Anantapur and the tournament format has been changed. The 2024 edition of the tournament will feature four teams- India A, India B, India C and India D. The teams for the tournament have been selected by Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been released from the tournament while pacers Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik won’t compete in the tournament due to their recovery from recent illness.
The Duleep Trophy is crucial for the preparations of the main Indian players ahead of the upcoming Test season. Likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan will participate in the tournament.
‘Rohit and Virat should’ve played’: Suresh Raina
After Sanjay Manjrekar, Suresh Raina also feels that Virat Kohli and Rohit should’ve played in the Duleep Trophy because Team India has not played any red-ball cricket since the IPL 2024. He also said that they both are mature cricketers and sometimes family is also important.
“Yes, they should’ve played, you see we haven’t played red-ball cricket ever since the IPL ended. Since, we’re heading towards a crucial Test series, one must play 4 day cricket and get used to how the wicket will behave on Day 4. I think they’re matured enough when they will regroup for 4-5 days and start practising. Sometimes, family-time is also important” Raina told Sports Tak.
After Sanjay Manjrekar, former cricketer Suresh Raina also feels that star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should’ve played in the Duleep Trophy. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
