Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Likely To Feature In Upcoming Duleep Trophy Season Ahead Of IND vs BAN Tests - Report

India's ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma and batter Virat Kohli are reportedly likely to feature in the upcoming Duleep Trophy season ahead of the India vs Bangladesh test series.

India's ODI and Test cricket teams captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli are expected to participate in the Duleep Trophy tournament as preparation for the upcoming Test series against Asian rivals Bangladesh as per a report. The squads will be selected by the senior selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). With the zonal format of the Duleep Trophy no longer in place, Ajit Agarkar’s panel is expected to select the four squads—India A, India B, India C and India D—that will compete in the tournament.

According to an Indian Express report, the Indian senior selection committee has directed all players to participate in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, starting September 5, as preparation for the Test series against Bangladesh. The India vs Bangladesh test series will kick off with the first test starting on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

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Gill, Rahul, Jadeja & Others May Also Feature In Duleep Trophy

Apart from Rohit and Kohli, players including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Surykumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav have also been asked to play in the Duleep Trophy. The tournament will feature six matches from September 5 to 24, with players from the senior team expected to participate in the early rounds.

While the players like Kohli, Rohit, Jadeja, Gill and Suryakumar are expected to play, star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will not participate due to a demanding season ahead according to the report. The report also suggests that Bumrah might be rested for the two-Test series India vs Bangladesh series, given the spin-friendly conditions and the likely return of Mohammed Shami.

The Duleep Trophy is set to be held in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, but since the location lacks direct flight connections, the BCCI is considering moving one round of the tournament to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The report indicates that it’s uncertain whether Rohit and Kohli will play in the tournament opener on September 5 or in the second round starting on September 12. Additionally, the BCCI is considering holding a short camp in Chennai before the Bangladesh Tests. If this plan materialises, Rohit and Kohli are likely to participate in the first round of the domestic tournament.