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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated that Indian cricketers take part in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, scheduled for next month. The BCCI is emphasizing the importance of domestic cricket for players during their break from international fixtures.
Recently, the Indian team experienced a 0-2 defeat against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, marking their first bilateral ODI series loss to Sri Lanka since 1997. The Indian batters struggled in spin-friendly conditions against Sri Lankan bowlers.
With no international matches on the horizon for nearly 40 days, the Rohit Sharma-led team will next face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series. The first Test will be held in Chennai from September 19 to 23, followed by the second Test in Kanpur starting September 27.
Indian Test Players to Participate in the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 – Report
As reported by The Indian Express, numerous Indian players are anticipated to join the Duleep Trophy 2024-25. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will encourage players to take part in this domestic red-ball tournament, which features four teams and is scheduled to run from September 5 to 24.
Team India Faces a Busy International Schedule Starting in September
For the 2023-24 season, the BCCI has streamlined the Duleep Trophy format to feature just four teams, with squads selected by the national selectors. This follows the reintroduction of a zonal format in the 2022-23 season, which involved six teams chosen by a zonal committee. Indian Test contenders are anticipated to participate in this tournament.
India will host Bangladesh and New Zealand for Test series at home before traveling to Australia for a five-match Test series from November to January. These matches are part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle. Additionally, the BCCI is likely to send India A teams to prepare for these major tours.
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were excluded from the central contracts earlier this year.
Earlier this year, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were removed from the central contract list. This decision followed their choice to not participate in domestic cricket despite directives from the BCCI. Shreyas Iyer recently returned to the Indian team during the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Ishan Kishan last played for India in the T20I series against Australia in November. He withdrew from the South Africa Test series for personal reasons and was also omitted from the Test series against England. Kishan is set to feature for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Invitational tournament starting August 15.
