The Duleep Trophy serves as the opening chapter for the domestic red-ball season, bringing together veteran internationals and rising stars for high-level competition. The action begins September 5, 2024, split between the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. Jay Shah, the Secretary of the BCCI, mentioned on Thursday that veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be exempt from the tournament to avoid the risk of injury.
The Duleep Trophy, which marks the beginning of red-ball cricket in the domestic season, will feature top Indian star players from the international circuit as well as young talents competing at the highest level. The tournament will begin on September 5, 2024, at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. On Thursday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah stated that veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should not be forced to play in the Duleep Trophy since doing so would expose them to have a risk of injuries.
Talking to the media, Jay Shah argued against forcing veterans like Rohit and Virat to participate in the Duleep Trophy, citing the potential for injury. He noted that in cricketing nations like Australia and England, it is common for top international players to skip domestic fixtures, and India should similarly respect its players' needs.
Shah also highlighted that other high-profile players will be returning to domestic cricket soon. This is particularly relevant for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, both of whom had their central contracts revoked due to their absence from red-ball domestic matches. Both players, along with Suryakumar Yadav, are set to represent their respective state teams in the Buchi Babu tournament, which begins this Thursday, August 16.
Shah urged people to appreciate that most players are actively participating, specifically noting that Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer are already geared up for the Buchi Babu tournament. However, India's core red-ball squad—including captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin—will be absent from the competition.