Ex-India cricketer opposes Jay Shah; wants Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah to play Duleep Trophy

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has opposed Jay Shah's statement in which the latter claimed that Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested from the Duleep Trophy 2024 to avoid any injuries ahead of a busy season.

Manjrekar came hard with some stats suggesting the percentage of matches these players have played over the past five years. He claimed that these players could have played Duleep Trophy given the lack of cricket recently.

Almost all of India's top cricketers are available for the upcoming Duleep Trophy tournament except Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. Players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are also a part of the tournament and will play to prepare for the upcoming Test season.

Also read: Dawid Malan, England's all-format centurion, announces shock retirement post-Australia series snub

Sanjay Manjrekar wants Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah to play Duleep Trophy

Sanjay Manjrekar took to social media and shared some statistics that highlighted the availability of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah in international cricket.

In his post, Manjrekar claimed that Rohit Sharma has played 59 percent, Kohli 61 percent, and Bumrah has played just 34 percent of the no. of matches India have played over the last five years.

“India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61 % & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep trophy,” Manjrekar posted on X (formerly Twitter).

India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61 % & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep trophy.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) August 28, 2024

Sanjay Manjrekar backs Sunil Gavaskar's statement

Earlier, legendary India opener Sunil Gavaskar had also raised questions on the selectors' move to rest Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gavaskar argued that these players might lack sufficient game time to adapt to the longest format as there has been a lot of time since they played red-ball cricket.

“The selectors have not picked the skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Duleep Trophy so they will most likely go into the Bangladesh Test series without much match practice.

"Once a player hits the mid-thirties in any sport, then regular competition will help him maintain the high standards he has set,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Mid-day.

India's upcoming Test schedule

India's next assignment is the home Test series against Bangladesh which will begin on September 19 in Chennai.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are likely to be a part of that series but Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested ahead of the gruelling Test season. Bumrah is expected to be back in the team from the Test series against New Zealand.

After the series against Bangladesh, India will host New Zealand for a three-match Test series. The team will then travel to Australia for a five-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.