The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shifted one of the opening matches of the Duleep Trophy from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, to Bengaluru, Karnataka, to accommodate some top players and reduce logistical challenges.
The Duleep Trophy, originally scheduled to start on September 5 in Anantapur, faced logistical difficulties as the city lacks flight connectivity and is located about 230 kilometres from Bengaluru.
The move to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru aims to facilitate the participation of key players in the tournament.
According to Reports, The decision has been made to accommodate some of the top players, so that they get a feel of the red-ball cricket ahead of the (Test) series against Bangladesh which is scheduled to start from September 19.
While pacer Jasprit Bumrah and senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin are unlikely to play, senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might be exempted, leaving the choice of participation up to them.
However, other prominent players like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to feature in the tournament either fully or partially.
The participation of Rishabh Pant, who has recently returned from injury, is also under consideration.
The shift in venue aligns with the BCCI’s and team management’s vision of ensuring top players participate in domestic cricket when not engaged in national duties.
Additionally, the availability of these players for the Duleep Trophy will depend on the dates of a preparatory camp being planned in Chennai ahead of India’s two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19.
Follow us
