Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun believes the 2024 Duleep Trophy will be an ideal opportunity to test the bowlers ahead of a packed schedule. Bharat Arun said the tournament allows the bowlers to gain experience with the red ball before India play ten Tests in January next year.

The Rohit Sharma-led side will begin their international season at home with five Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Before this, the Indian cricketers will be seen in action during the first round of the Duleep Trophy, which will begin on September 5 in Bengaluru and Anantapur.

This year, the format of the Duleep Trophy has changed. The new format of the tournament features four teams (A, B, C and D). After the group stage, the top two teams will advance to the final match of the tournament. It is noteworthy that the tournament was not held for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Provides an opportunity for all cricketers – Bharat Arun

Speaking to IANS, Bharat Arun said the selectors have picked around 18-20 players and added that the focus will be on specific players during the competition.

“This provides an opportunity for all the cricketers to get a sufficient number of overs under their belt. Also, it is a great process to see how they fare with the red ball. The selectors have picked almost 18-20 players, haven’t they? So I am sure they must have focused on some of the bowlers.”

“The Duleep Trophy gives you the right platform to evaluate the players. Also, the players can have sufficient number of overs under their belt, so it is like a preparation for the (future) Test series,” Bharat Arun told IANS.

Team India will face a big challenge during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series in Australia later this year. India’s fast bowlers will play a crucial role in helping the team secure victory in Australia. The team is also aiming for its third consecutive World Test Championship final.

Standards need to be raised – Bharat Arun

The format of the Ranji Trophy has changed for the 2024/25 season. The Ranji Trophy will be split into two phases due to the winter disruptions in the North and Northeast regions. The first phase will have five group matches and the second phase will begin after the Vijay Hazare Trophy concludes.

Bharat Arun highlighted the benefits of the new two-phase structure of the Ranji Trophy. Arun said that playing against teams of equal calibre pushes players to improve and raise their standards.

“It would work because you’re playing more against teams that are equal rather than facing someone who is way below the expected level.”

“So when you are up against players of your own age, who are better cricketers, you have to raise the bar. That’s the only way you can learn. So it’s a good opportunity for all of them to raise the bar when they come back to play against each other,” Arun continued.

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