The omission of KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj from the South Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025 has triggered a strong reaction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The board has issued a clear directive to state associations, insisting that centrally contracted India players must feature in the domestic tournament.
South Zone released its squad on July 27 without including Rahul, Siraj, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, and Sai Sudharsan. With the Duleep Trophy starting on August 28 in Bengaluru, the absence of these top international cricketers has become a point of contention.
BCCI’s Warning to State Associations
BCCI general manager of cricket operations, Abey Kuruvilla, addressed the matter in a strongly worded email to zonal convenors and state units. He underlined the importance of preserving the tournament’s status by ensuring participation of all available Indian stars.
“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.”
This stance is consistent with the BCCI’s long-standing policy that mandates contracted players to take part in domestic cricket unless exempted with prior approval. The board has previously warned players against prioritising the IPL over first-class competitions.
Debate Over Domestic Opportunities
Tilak Varma was named South Zone captain, but his squad did not include the star names in question. In contrast, other India players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Shreyas Iyer are expected to participate for their zones.
State associations have raised concerns that automatic inclusion of India internationals denies Ranji performers their deserved recognition. They argue that India A tours or Board President’s XI matches could be better platforms for established players, leaving zonal tournaments as a reward for domestic talent.
The BCCI, however, has made it clear that exemptions will only be granted for “valid and cogent” reasons, with approval from both the head coach and the selection committee. With the Duleep Trophy reverting to its zonal format this year, selectors face the task of balancing star power with opportunities for consistent domestic performers.
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