Chinnaswamy to Host Duleep Trophy Match; Top Internationals Expected, Except for Bumrah and Pandya

The opening match of India’s domestic season, featuring a Duleep Trophy game, is set to be hosted by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The KSCA has confirmed Bengalruru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium as the venue for the first of six four-day red-ball games, starting September 5. Although Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh is the designated venue for the multi-day tournament, this particular game has been moved to Bengaluru. 

"This decision comes at the request of the Indian Cricket Board. We have agreed to host the match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium," a KSCA official said. The venue change reflects the Indian Cricket Board’s decision to include top international players and domestic talents in the Duleep Trophy ahead of the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, beginning September 18.  

Except Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma, top players have been instructed to partake in the competition. The majority of international players, including Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Kl Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to participate, either partially or fully. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been given the option to elect whether or not to participate. 

Hardik Pandya is expected to be the only notable absentee from the crop of top international players, who has taken time off from playing red-ball cricket. However,  Ishan Kishan, who has constantly been overlooked from all international assignments of late can get a green light.  Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been exempted from domestic duties, and Mohammad Shami, who is rehabilitating from surgery, is doubtful for this competition. 

The decision was collectively made by the Indian Cricket Board, selectors and the newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. As per a source, the exemption for star players- Rohit and Virat is work management. It is believed that the star players were overworked.  

“It's up to them whether or not to play”, said the source. Rohit last made a domestic game appearance in 2021, while Kohli has not played a domestic match since 2015.

The decision to incorporate internationals in domestic competition lines up with the Indian Cricket Board’s attempt to address the issue of players opting out of domestic matches. In 2023, the board excluded Iyer and Ishan from the central contract list as part of this policy. 

The multi-class first-class competition i.e. Duleep Trophy will be organised in a league format. There will be no knockout games and the tournament ends on September 22.