Virat, Rohit might play in Duleep Trophy as India gear up for Bangladesh Tests; BCCI to include Iyer, Ishan

Batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might feature in the upcoming Duleep Trophy alongside other first-team players as Team India gears up for the two home Tests against Bangladesh starting September 19. Per the latest report, the BCCI will pick the squads for the tournament, to be played in a newer format, with Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav asked to feature as well.

The report also suggests that the Indian board wants to include Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan in squads for the four-team event, which begins on September 5. Both were left out of BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season after their fallouts with the board over their participation in the domestic matches. Though the BCCI’s selection committee named Iyer in the squad for the recently concluded Sri Lanka ODIs, Kishan’s name was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is said to be resting ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah from this tournament and Bangladesh Tests.

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Considering the pitches on offer in the first series of the home season will assist spinners, and Mohammed Shami is nearing full fitness, with the latest updates suggesting he resumed bowling at the NCA, Bumrah could be on prolonged rest.

Besides, with India playing eight Tests till early next year, including three against New Zealand at home and five against Australia Down Under, Bumrah’s fitness and availability would be paramount for the Indian Team.

New format for Duleep Trophy

With India's cricket apex body done away with the zonal format for this tournament, the selection committee will now pick four squads – India A, India B, India C and India D.

Also, since the star players have agreed to play in the tournament, scheduled in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, not connected by air transport, the BCCI has decided to keep one round at the M Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru.

The six matches will begin on September 5 and end on September 24, with the first Test against Bangladesh starting September 19.

Meanwhile, there is no official word on whether Virat and Rohit will play the first two rounds of the Duleep Trophy, starting September 5 and September 12, respectively. But the report in the Indian Express reads that the BCCI plans to host a short camp in Chennai before the Bangladesh Tests, and if all goes to plan, the two will feature in the domestic tournament.

(With inputs from agencies)