Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a debate about the selection process for the upcoming Duleep Trophy by suggesting that “well-rested” Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah should have been included in the first round.
The Duleep Trophy, which marks the start of India’s domestic season on September 5th, will see a change in format. Instead of the traditional zonal approach, the tournament will feature four teams: India A, India B, India C, and India D. These teams have been selected by the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI Selection Committee.
Manjrekar, known for his insightful commentary, took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to express his views. He highlighted the workload of India’s top players in recent years, stating that Rohit has participated in 59% of India’s 249 international matches over the last five years, Virat in 61%, and Bumrah in only 34%. Based on these numbers, he argued that these players are “well rested” and could have been valuable additions to the Duleep Trophy squad.
Adding to the intrigue, the BCCI announced on Tuesday that Ravindra Jadeja has been withdrawn from the tournament without providing a reason. Furthermore, Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik will not participate due to recent illness, with Navdeep Saini and Gaurav Yadav replacing them.
The Duleep Trophy is set to play a crucial role in identifying key players for India’s upcoming Test series. With a packed schedule, including the World Test Championship final at stake, the tournament will offer a platform to assess player form and readiness.
India’s home season kicks off with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19th in Chennai, followed by a second game in Kanpur beginning on September 27th. After this series, India will face New Zealand in three Tests in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. Finally, the team will travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, commencing on November 22nd in Perth.
