The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah, has shed light on why Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit Sharma were not included in the 2024 Duleep Trophy squads. The decision to exclude these star players was driven by a focus on player workload management and injury prevention.
Jay Shah’s comments
Shah emphasized that it wouldn’t make sense to add to Virat and Rohit’s load by asking them to play domestic cricket. Given their crucial roles in the national team, they run the risk of getting injured. Shah drew a parallel with England and Australia, where top players rarely participate in domestic cricket.
Shah highlighted the need to treat Indian players respectfully and not as mere servants. While Rohit and Virat were absent from the Duleep Trophy squads, other players would still participate, ensuring a balance between rest and preparation.
“Apart from them, everyone else is playing. You should appreciate that. One must note that Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer are playing in the Buchi Babu tournament. We should not insist on players like Rohit and Virat to play in the Duleep Trophy. They will risk injury. If you have noticed, in Australia and England, every international player does not play domestic cricket. We have to treat the players with respect,” Shah said.
Shah’s strict approach extends to injured players. For any player to make a comeback for Team India after an injury, they must first prove their fitness in domestic cricket. This policy ensures that players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who are playing in the Duleep Trophy, demonstrate their readiness before returning to the national team.
Jay Shah pic.twitter.com/ZtZ4PRh2ln
— RVCJ Sports (@RVCJ_Sports) August 15, 2024
The Duleep Trophy matches, starting on September 5, will serve as valuable preparation for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. While fans miss seeing Virat and Rohit in action, their absence reflects a strategic approach to safeguard their well-being and long-term performance.
Also Read: Chennaiyin FC Strengthens Backline with Vignesh Dakshinamurthy
