Star players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, according to former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, ought to have participated in the forthcoming Duleep Trophy.
Notably, rumors relating that Rohit and Kohli might compete in the Duleep Trophy to be ready for the busy Test schedule that none of the four teams the BCCI announced for the red-ball event had the batting heavyweights.
Former cricket players Sunil Gavaskar and Sanjay Manjrekar believed they should have participated in the red-ball event after being excluded, as it would have significantly aided them in the impending series against Bangladesh.
Now that the IPL is gone, Raina has reiterated the same ideas, stating that the squad hasn’t played any red-ball cricket. Indeed, they should have participated; we last played red-ball cricket in the IPL concluded.
One needs to play four days of cricket to become accustomed to the wicket’s behavior on Day 4, especially with a vital Test series quickly approaching. They are mature enough when they regroup and begin practicing for four to five days. Family time is critical sometimes, too, Raina said to Sports Tak.
Speaking further ahead of schedule, Raina described the circumstances in Kanpur, where the second Test of the series will be played. He added that they should not be taken lightly, considering Bangladesh’s previous performance against Pakistan.
Bangladesh is a country we cannot ignore
“However, because of the dew effect, the wicket in Kanpur, where they will play in October, will solidify and not spin as much. There will be chilly mornings because the land is close to the Ganga River.
They will have to deal with the dreary conditions, but the Indian team is formidable. We must not, however, underestimate Bangladesh because they recently defeated Pakistan in the first Test at Rawalpindi. I hope we get to witness some excellent cricket,” he continued.
The India vs. Bangladesh series is scheduled for September 19, 2024, with the first match at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium and the second Test starting on September 27 at Green Park, Kanpur.
In the upcoming days, the team for the series is anticipated to be announced. In the meantime, Bangladesh won the first Test match against Pakistan by ten wickets, defeating them for the first time in their history.
The team captained by Hossain Shanto of Najmul would also aim to win the second Test to beat their Asian competitors and bring a winning record to India.