Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has praised Shubman Gill’s decision to participate in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, calling it a strong statement on the importance of domestic cricket for national players.

Gill, who will captain the North Zone side, has just returned from a gruelling five-Test series in England where he topped the scoring charts with over 750 runs, helping India secure a 2-2 draw. Despite the heavy workload, the Indian skipper has chosen to play in the domestic competition instead of taking a break.

Sends a strong signal to teammates

Writing in his Sportstar column, Gavaskar said Gill’s participation sends the “right signal” to teammates about valuing domestic cricket. “By being available, the Indian skipper is sending the right signal to the other members of the team. It would have been understandable if, after a gruelling tour where five Test matches were crammed into a little over six weeks, he had opted to rest,” Gavaskar observed.

He also noted that while Gill’s involvement was commendable, resting fast bowlers from the tournament made sense due to the strain of recent matches. “The fast bowlers not playing is good thinking, as it has been an unusually hot summer in England, thanks to global warming, and their energies must have been expended after the untiring spells they bowled throughout the series,” he said.

Duleep Trophy returns to zonal format

This year’s Duleep Trophy marks a return to its traditional zonal format, featuring four teams – North, East, South, and West Zones – each comprising players who are part of or aiming for a place in India’s Test squad. Squads have been selected by zonal committees with representatives from all states in each region.

North Zone, led by Gill, will begin with a play-off match against East Zone. The winner will move on to face either South Zone or West Zone in the semi-finals.

A boost for domestic cricket

For Gill, the tournament offers a dual purpose: to continue his stellar batting form and to demonstrate his commitment to India’s domestic structure. His presence is expected to inspire younger cricketers and strengthen the link between domestic cricket and the national team.