Sunil Gavaskar explains why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should have played in Duleep Trophy?

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Sunil Gavaskar has reckoned that India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should have featured in Duleep Trophy 2024 first-round matches ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh starting September 19.

The two star batters were not named in the four squads announced for the first-round of matches from September 5. It has been learnt that Kohli and Rohit were given the option to feature, however the two senior experienced cricketers opted out.

"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." Jay Shah recently said as quoted by ANI.

However, former India great Sunil Gavaskar reckoned that while Jasprit Bumrah being rested was justified, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have played a match before the first Test against Bangladesh. He said batters in their mid 30s need to play regularly to keep their memory fresh.

“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 the mid-day.

“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. Once a player hits the mid-thirties in any sport, then regular competition will help him maintain the high standards he has set.

"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,” Gavaskar added.

Virat Kohli headed back to his family in London after featuring in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. He failed to deliver in each of the three matches. Rohit Sharma looked sharp and hit fifties in the first two games, but failed to play a match-winning knock in the decisive third game.