Sunil Gavaskar statement and reaction as he Questions Absence of Kohli and Rohit from Duleep Trophy

 

Sunil Gavaskar statement and reaction as he Questions Absence of Kohli and Rohit from Duleep Trophy

As the Duleep Trophy is set to kick off on September 5 in Anantapur and Bengaluru, former Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his concerns over the notable absence of star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Their omission has sparked considerable debate, particularly given their crucial roles in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

In a column for *Mid-Day*, Gavaskar questioned the decision to exclude both Kohli and Rohit, highlighting their need for match practice.

Gavaskar, who is known for his deep understanding of the game, pointed out that for players in their mid-30s, regular competitive play is essential to maintain

form and fitness. He emphasized that breaks from the game could disrupt muscle memory and mental sharpness, which are critical at this stage of their careers.

“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,” Gavaskar wrote. “Once a player hits the mid-thirties in any sport, regular competition helps him maintain the high standards he has set.”

Gavaskar acknowledged the rationale behind resting pacer Jasprit Bumrah due to his injury history and the need for careful workload management. However, he argued that the same reasoning does not apply to batters.

According to Gavaskar, while managing Bumrah’s workload is crucial to prevent further injury, the batters would benefit from additional time in the middle to stay sharp.

“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,” Gavaskar noted. “When there’s a longish gap, the muscle memory weakens somewhat, and getting back to high standards from earlier is not easy.”

In response, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah defended the decision to rest Kohli and Rohit from the Duleep Trophy. Shah explained that the strategy aligns with practices adopted by international teams such as Australia and England, aiming to prevent injuries before a crucial Test season. He argued that it’s not necessary for all international players to participate in domestic cricket, as doing so could elevate the risk of injury.

“We should not insist on players like Rohit and Virat to play in the Duleep Trophy. They will risk injury,” Shah told ANI.

“If you have noticed, in Australia and England, every international player does not play domestic cricket. We have to treat the players with respect.”

As the debate continues, the focus remains on how this decision will impact the performance of Kohli and Rohit in the upcoming Bangladesh series, and whether their absence from the Duleep Trophy will influence their preparation for international cricket.