As the squads for the upcoming Duleep Trophy were announced, the absence of top Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has sparked a debate in the cricketing fraternity. The Duleep Trophy, a prestigious red-ball competition, marks the beginning of India’s domestic season, and speculations were rife that it could feature a star-studded lineup. However, while several top cricketers made the cut, notable omissions included Test captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya.

Bumrah has been given an extended rest due to his history of back issues, while Shami is recovering from an ankle injury. Pandya, who has not played first-class cricket since December 2018, has prioritized his white-ball career owing to his injury history. However, the exclusions of Rohit and Kohli have raised eyebrows, particularly given their upcoming Test assignments, including a five-match series in Australia.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah defended the decision, stating that it was made to prevent unnecessary injuries ahead of the crucial Test series. “It doesn’t make sense to add to Virat and Rohit’s load by asking them to play domestic cricket. They run the risk of getting injured,” Shah told The Times of India.

Despite the BCCI’s rationale, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his disagreement. Gavaskar, a former India captain and one of the greatest batsmen of all time, believes that regular match practice is crucial for players, especially as they age. He argues that the duo, both in their mid-thirties, could have benefited from game time in the Duleep Trophy, which starts on September 5.

“The selectors have not picked the 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 in his column for Mid-Day. He further emphasized the importance of maintaining muscle memory, particularly for players who are no longer in their physical prime. “Once a player hits the mid-thirties in any sport, regular competition will help him maintain the high standards he has set. When there’s a longish gap, muscle memory weakens somewhat, and getting back to previous standards is not easy,” he added.

Rohit last played a Test match in March this year, while Kohli’s last appearance in the longest format was in January. Both have been active in white-ball cricket and recently announced their retirements from T20Is. The duo is expected to return to action in the Bangladesh Test series next month.