Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli likely to play Duleep Trophy; Report

After a disappointing ODI series against Sri Lanka, the Indian men's cricket team is now gearing up for an intense Test schedule, marking the beginning of Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach in red-ball cricket. Known for his strong belief in the importance of domestic red-ball cricket, Gambhir is eager to implement his philosophy within the national team. Reports suggest that he is keen on having key players like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and seasoned stars such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli participate in the upcoming Duleep Trophy as part of their preparation for the Test season.

Star players set to feature in Duleep Trophy

According to a report by Indian Express, Gambhir has recommended that India's star cricketers, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav, take part in the Duleep Trophy to sharpen their skills ahead of the Test season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to include both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the tournament's roster. However, veteran players like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara may not get a chance to participate. The only player exempted from this participation is pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been granted an extended break as part of workload management.

Duleep Trophy and upcoming test series schedule

The Duleep Trophy campaign is set to commence on September 5, with matches being played in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will pick four squads—India A, India B, India C, and India D—for the tournament, moving away from the traditional zonal format. Some matches are also planned to be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Notably, the Duleep Trophy's schedule overlaps with India's upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, which begins on September 19. The selectors are reportedly considering whether to rest Bumrah for the first two Tests of the Bangladesh series, given India's packed schedule of 10 Test matches over the next four months, including five against Australia. Mohammed Shami is expected to return to the squad after a long hiatus since the ODI World Cup.

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Additionally, the BCCI is planning a short preparatory camp in Chennai before the start of the Bangladesh series, aiming to ensure the team is fully ready for the grueling Test season ahead.