The BCCI has shifted one of the opening Duleep Trophy matches from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, to Bengaluru, primarily to ease logistical challenges and accommodate top Indian players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin. The tournament, originally scheduled to begin in Anantapur on September 5, will now see one game held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might be exempt, with their participation left to their discretion.
The move aims to prepare players for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, beginning on September 19 in Chennai. Other key players like Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill are expected to participate, either fully or partially. However, Bumrah and Ashwin will likely join the India squad directly ahead of the Bangladesh series.
The availability of top players for the Duleep Trophy will depend on the dates of a preparatory camp planned in Chennai. The shift also reflects the BCCI’s commitment to having top players engage in domestic cricket when not on national duty.
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