Sunil Gavaskar questions the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli from Duleep Trophy

Aug 20, 2024

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Sunil Gavaskar questions the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli from Duleep Trophy

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Former Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has voiced concerns over the absence of star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the upcoming Duleep Trophy, which is set to begin on September 5, in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The omission of these senior players has sparked debate, especially considering their critical roles in the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

Sunil Gavaskar raises eyebrows over Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s absence

In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar expressed his belief that both Kohli and Rohit, now in their mid-30s, could have benefited from participating in the Duleep Trophy. He emphasized that regular match practice is essential for maintaining their form and fitness, particularly as they approach the later stages of their careers. Gavaskar highlighted the importance of keeping the mind refreshed and muscle memory intact, which can diminish during long breaks from competitive cricket.

“The selectors have not picked skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Duleep Trophy, so they will most likely go into the Bangladesh Test series without much match practice. Once a player hits the mid-thirties in any sport, then regular competition will help him maintain the high standards he has set,” Gavaskar wrote.

Also READ: BCCI announces squads for the Duleep Trophy; Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead

Gavaskar uses different logic

While Gavaskar understands the need to rest pacer Jasprit Bumrah, given his injury history and the need to manage his workload carefully, he believes the same logic does not apply to the batters. He acknowledged that Bumrah, who has been prone to back injuries, requires careful management to avoid further complications. However, Gavaskar contends that the batters could have utilized the Duleep Trophy to hone their skills and stay in form ahead of the Bangladesh series.

“While it’s understandable that somebody like Jasprit Bumrah with his delicate back needs to be handled with care, the batters could have done with some batting time out in the middle. When there’s a longish gap then the muscle memory weakens somewhat and to get back to the high standards from earlier is not easy,” the 75-year-old added.

BCCI’s stance: A preventive measure

Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah defended the decision to rest Rohit and Virat from the Duleep Trophy. Speaking to the ANI, Shah emphasized the importance of preventing injuries before the crucial Test season, citing the practices followed by international teams like Australia and England. He argued that it’s unnecessary for all international players to participate in domestic cricket, as doing so could increase the risk of injury.

“We should not insist on players like Rohit and Virat to play in the Duleep Trophy. They will risk injury. If you have noticed, in Australia and England, every international player does not play domestic cricket. We have to treat the players with respect,” Gavaskar concluded.