Tension brews as BCCI slams selectors for KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj exclusion from Duleep Trophy

Indian Pacer Mohammed Siraj

The exclusion of elite international players like Mohammed Siraj and KL Rahul from the South Zone roster for the forthcoming Duleep Trophy has angered the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). For the domestic season opener, the board has responded by formally writing to each state association and asking them to give the selection of centrally contracted players top priority.

The problem started on July 27 when South Zone announced their squad, leaving out a number of well-known players like Rahul, Siraj, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, and Sai Sudharsan. The Duleep Trophy, which begins in Bengaluru on August 28, is an essential stage for talent at the national and local levels. Even though these players were available throughout the current off-season, South Zone's decision to exclude them did not sit well with the board.

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Abey Kuruvilla, general manager of cricket operations for the BCCI, issued state units and zonal convenors an email last week addressing the issue. Kuruvilla emphasised the significance of preserving the Duleep Trophy's prestige and competitive level by guaranteeing the participation of all available Indian players in the email that The Indian Express was able to acquire.

“To uphold its prestige and ensure the highest quality of competition, it’s imperative that all currently available India players are selected for their respective zonal teams,” Kuruvilla wrote. “Requesting the Zonal Convenors to ensure that all the current Indian players who are available to play the Duleep Trophy should be picked.”

The BCCI's standing policy, which requires international players to compete in domestic tournaments, is consistent with this guideline. Earlier this year, the board reminded all contractual players to stick to the domestic schedule and issued a warning against players prioritising the IPL over first-class cricket. Following India's January Test visit of Australia, the expectation was restated.

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It's uncertain if the selectors will change their list, even though the BCCI's directive was given after South Zone had already revealed its squad. None of the key international players in question were selected in the South Zone side, which will be led by Tilak Varma.

Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Shreyas Iyer are among the other national players who are anticipated to compete on behalf of their respective zones.

In the past, state organizations have voiced their concerns that Ranji players who have played consistently throughout the season are overlooked when India stars are automatically included in zonal teams. Many have suggested that international players would be better served by India A tours and games, such as the Board President's XI, while domestic players would be rewarded through zonal tournaments.

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All players who want to be considered for national selection, however, must compete in domestic competitions, unless they are exempted by the national coach and selection committee, and then with board agreement beforehand, according to the BCCI. Kuruvilla emphasized in his email that leave will only be given for "valid and cogent" reasons.

As in the previous season, teams are now chosen by zonal selectors instead of the national panel for the Duleep Trophy, which has returned to a zonal system this year.