"If you're good, you should be playing all the three formats" - Gautam Gambhir

An important fact of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) release on Thursday stated that the squads for the six-match white ball series in Sri Lanka were a firm statement about players’ participation in domestic competitions as well.

“The BCCI will continue to monitor player availability and participation in the upcoming domestic cricket season, 2024-25,” the release stated. However, it also suggests that international players may be seen competing in domestic matches next season as well.

While the BCCI’s push for international players to play domestic cricket seriously is not new, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan faced a snub from the central contract for skipping Ranji matches last season as well. However, the BCCI, in collaboration with the selectors, will monitor players’ activities when they are not playing international cricket as well. The new domestic season begins on September 5 with a four-team Duleep Trophy as well and the participation of some international players can be seen as well.

“I’m a very strong believer in one thing, that if you’re good, you should be playing all the three formats. I’ve never been a big believer that injury management, you get injured, you go get recovered. As simple as it gets,” the new head coach Gautam Gambhir had recently remarked.

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both will play the ODIs in Sri Lanka

“Injuries are part of a sportsman’s life. And if you’re playing all the three formats, you get injured, you go back, get recovered, but you should be playing all the three formats. I am not a big believer in identifying people that we’re going to keep him for Test matches or other formats. We’re going to manage his injury and workload and stuff. Professional cricketers, you’ve got a very small span when you’re playing for your country and you want to play as much as you can. And when you’re in very good form, go ahead and play all the three formats.” he spoke to Star Sports.

However, the topic was discussed during Thursday’s selection committee meeting, which was also attended by the new head coach Gautam Gambhir. Notably, Hardik Pandya lost his T20I captaincy because he wanted to skip the ODI leg of the Sri Lanka series as well. It is also understood that both chief selectors Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir said to Pandya about the necessity of being available for all games as well.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both will play the ODIs in Sri Lanka which is clearly under Gambhir’s principle as well. The coach is firm that all players need to participate in international competitions and both Rohit and Kohli were spoken to by the Board officials as well. With only six ODIs remaining before the Champions Trophy – three against Sri Lanka next month and another three against England next year – it was very important for the senior players to participate in these matches as well.