The BCCI have recently made a rule that the central contracted players have to play domestic cricket when there are no international matches, unless they have an injury. The Duleep Trophy is fast approaching and all the central contracted players are featuring in it ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19.
There were reports that Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah will feature in it as well. However, they have not been named in the Duleep Trophy squads as of yet and have been reportedly rested. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and current commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, expressed his displeasure on the same.
He took to ‘X’ to put light on the fact that the Indian Captain, Rohit Sharma has played 59%, Kohli has played 61% and Bumrah has played only 34% of the international matches played by the Indian team in the last 5 years. Thus, he feels that the trio should have been picked for the Duleep Trophy.
He tweeted:
“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.”
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah to be rested for the Duleep Trophy 2024
After the T20 World Cup 2024 win, Sharma and Kohli announced their retirement from T20I cricket to manage their workload and also give chances to younger players in this format.
They were back for the ODI series against Sri Lanka after one and half months under new head coach, Gautam Gambhir. After the ODI series, they are again resting for one and half months, until the Test series against Bangladesh kicks off on home soil from September 19.
On the other hand, Bumrah has been rested since the World Cup and will reportedly be rested in the Test series against Bangladesh as well. The selectors and the BCCI are taking proper care of Bumrah, given the number of Test matches India has to play in the months to come.
