BCCI Secretary Jay Shah underscored the importance of star cricketers participating in domestic engagements when not on national duty, with exceptions made for players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. The BCCI aims for all other Test specialists to engage in at least one or two Duleep Trophy games in August, gearing up for upcoming Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. The selection committee will determine the Duleep Trophy teams, considering all Test contenders, while Rohit, Virat, and Bumrah have the discretion to decide on their participation.
Hardik Pandya will lead India in the T20 International series against Sri Lanka starting on July 27. However, he will opt out of the subsequent three-match ODI series in August due to personal reasons. Previously T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma, Pandya is fully fit and available for the T20I series.
Rohit Sharma has retired from T20 Internationals, with the T20 series against Sri Lanka scheduled from July 27 to 30, followed by ODIs from August 2 to 7. The squad announcement for the series is forthcoming. The deputy captaincy for Pandya remains undecided, with Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav under consideration. Pandya has informed regular skipper Rohit Sharma about his decision to take leave during the ODIs, citing personal reasons.
An official clarified that Pandya's absence from ODIs is not related to any fitness concerns reported in the media. KL Rahul, who led the team in the recent ODI series in South Africa, and Gill are potential candidates for leadership roles in the ODIs.