Team India got a rare and huge holiday of 42 days. India have no games for now after the white ball series against Sri Lanka. Their next assignment is the home series against Bangladesh. Two Tests will be played along with three T20 series. The first Test started on September 19 in Chennai.
The selectors have decided to participate in the Dilip Trophy to give the cricketers an opportunity to prepare during this long vacation. Where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will also participate. Hindustan Times confirmed this news in a report.
Dilip Trophy will start on September 5 under new rules. The BCCI selection committee has named Rohit and Virat in the player list. After the two Tests of the ICC Test Championship against Bangladesh, India will host New Zealand for three Tests in October.
Not just Rohit and Virat; Shubman Gill, Lokesh Rahul, Akshar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yasswi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav have also been made mandatory by the selectors for the Dilip Trophy. Mohammed Shami will also return with them. Shami has not been able to play cricket since November last year due to an ankle injury. He is currently in the final stages of rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
The selectors have been informed about Shami’s progress. To prove how much his fitness has improved, he will have to play in the Dilip Trophy starting on September 5 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh state. Shami will be decided after at least one match in the tournament.
The series against Bangladesh can be on a spin-friendly wicket. That’s why India may not play Jasprit Bumrah. The zonal format has been dropped in the Dilip Trophy. The Ajit Agarkar-led committee will announce four squads. India A, B, C and D. The competition will run from September 5 to September 24. Rohit and Virat will be seen in two separate teams.