Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes it would have been beneficial for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to participate in the Duleep Trophy. Gavaskar argues that players in their mid-thirties might experience a weakening of "muscle memory" if they do not engage in high-level cricket regularly.
“The selectors have left out Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the Duleep Trophy, which means they are likely to enter the Bangladesh Test series with limited match practice,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day. “For players in their mid-thirties, regular competition is crucial to maintaining the high standards they’ve set. A long break can weaken muscle memory, making it challenging to regain peak performance.”
India is scheduled to play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh in September as part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Rohit Sharma last played a red-ball game in the final Test against England in Dharmshala earlier this year, while Virat Kohli’s most recent Test appearance was in the New Year Test at Cape Town, South Africa. Gavaskar noted, “A significant gap between matches can lead to a decline in performance standards, making it hard to return to previous levels.”
Gavaskar also touched on the situation with Jasprit Bumrah, acknowledging the need for careful management of the pacer’s back issues. However, he emphasised the importance of providing batters with ample time in the middle. “While it’s understandable that Jasprit Bumrah needs to be handled with care, batters would benefit from more playing time,” he added.
The Indian team is currently in a period of transition, with management considering moving past veterans like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Despite some middle-order injuries earlier in the year during the series against England, the team has focused on integrating younger players rather than relying on experienced veterans, even though the latter has been performing well in domestic cricket.