Potential face-off between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in revamped historic tournament before India vs Bangladesh Tests: Report

India concluded their white-ball tour of Sri Lanka last Wednesday with a disappointing 0-2 loss in the ODI series following a dominant 3-0 clean sweep in the T20Is. The team now enters a rare 42-day break in international cricket before their next campaign in September. The next series will see India facing Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting on September 19, marking the beginning of the home season. Fans can expect to see the star players back in action for the Duleep Trophy, which is set to kick off on September 5.

According to a report in Indian Express, with an eye on the preparation for the Bangladesh Test series next month, which will be followed by a three-Test contest in October at home against New Zealand, BCCI's selection committee is likely to name India captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli for the Duleep Trophy, which will be played in a new format this season. Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Surykumar Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav have also been asked to be available for the domestic tournament.

However, senior fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah's prolonged rest period is likely to continue after he was not named for any of the white-ball squads for India since the T20 World Cup win in June. In fact, the report added that with the selectors expecting spin-friendly tracks for the home series against Bangladesh, Bumrah is likely to be rested for the contest, given that Mohammed Shami, who has been out of action with an ankle injury since the ODI World Cup last year, closing in on return.

BCCI yet to confirm Kohli, Rohit's availability

With the Duleep Trophy no longer to be played in zonal format, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will name four squads, India A, B, C and D, for the tournament, which will begin on September 5 and end on the 24th. The report added that BCCI is currently contemplating the venue for the tournament. While it is slated to be played in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, with the venue not connected by air transport, the board might opt for stage one round of the tournament at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

However, Rohit and Kohli's availability for the opening two rounds of the Duleep Trophy has not been confirmed yet. The board is currently planning a training camp in Chennai before the Bangladesh series, and if that gets confirmed, Kohli and Rohit will participate in the opening round of the tournament.

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