(Source X)
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized that several Test players are set to participate in the upcoming Duleep Trophy as part of their preparations for the Test season.
Agarkar’s statement follows the BCCI’s directive earlier this year for players to engage in domestic cricket when not on national duty. Recently, many national team members have tended to bypass domestic tournaments, often opting instead to focus on the IPL for fitness and form. In response, the BCCI has taken a firm stance, urging players to prioritize domestic cricket.
Notably, players such as Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer had their central contracts impacted earlier this year due to their decisions to skip the Ranji Trophy. Agarkar underscored that playing domestic cricket is now non-negotiable for players not in the national team, emphasizing the importance of competitive match practice.
Ahead of Team India’s departure for Sri Lanka on July 22, Agarkar reiterated that participation in events like the Duleep Trophy will be pivotal for Test players aiming to stay sharp and ready for international duty.
Ajit Agarkar mentioned that he hasn’t had a discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir yet, but confirmed that several players will indeed participate in the tournament scheduled for early September.
He highlighted the significance of the Duleep Trophy as the sole competitive opportunity for Test players ahead of the Bangladesh series. Agarkar expressed plans to confer with Gambhir on this matter in the near future.
“I haven’t discussed with Gautam yet. It’s not always easy. But there will certainly be enough players out of that squad that are likely to play the first (Duleep Trophy) game at least. That’s the only game they can really play. We’ll sit down and discuss which guys really need to play,” Agarkar said.
“It’s nice for the competition if all your top players come and play. It is not easy with such a packed and long season, it’s tough for the players if they have a week off somewhere to make them play. There will be some in the squad who will play,” he added.
During the upcoming schedule, India is slated to contest three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs against Sri Lanka. The T20I series kicks off on July 27, followed by the start of the ODIs on August 2.
