Kohli and Rohit to Play Duleep Trophy

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to grace the Duleep Trophy this year, according to recent reports. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is gearing up to select star-studded squads as the tournament starts on September 5.

Players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Surykumar Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav have already been asked to participate. However, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah won’t be playing due to a prolonged rest period. The selectors are still debating whether to include him in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

This season sees a change in the Duleep Trophy format, moving away from the old zonal system. Ajit Agarkar‘s selection panel will choose four squads: India A, India B, India C, and India D, for the tournament.

The matches will be held in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, with one round also planned at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The entire series wraps up before the first Test against Bangladesh, which is set to take place in Chennai on September 19.

There is uncertainty whether Rohit and Kohli will kick off the Duleep Trophy on September 5 or join in the second round starting September 12. The BCCI may hold a short training camp in Chennai before the Test series begins.

Veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane are likely to be excluded from the teams, as the selectors are keen on nurturing young talent like Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel.

In another development, Ishan Kishan is expected to be picked for the Duleep Trophy. His recent absence from the Ranji Trophy had raised eyebrows, prompting the selectors to give him one more chance to prove his worth.