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India captain Rohit Sharma has stated that it is critical for players to get enough rest to be fresh for international engagements while also agreeing that the BCCI was correct in mandating that national team members play domestic cricket.
The domestic cricket participation guideline was one of 10 issued by the BCCI this week following a review meeting, which Rohit attended, to discuss India's recent dismal performance in Tests.
Rohit was also heard saying during a press conference in Mumbai that several of his teammates were concerned about some of the conditions, such as the restrictions on families traveling with the players.
During the news conference, the Indian captain for the longer formats stated that participating in domestic competitions was part of a plan rather than a diktat or punishment.
"[In the] last six-seven years, if you go back and see our calendar, there hasn't been a time where we were sitting at home for 45 days and there was cricket going on. You do get that time when you finish the IPL, and if there's nothing happening right after that. But if you see our domestic season, it starts in October—maybe September—and it gets over by February-March. And that is the time India plays a lot of [international] cricket as well. So, guys who are not playing certain formats and have time, and then there is domestic cricket happening, then they will play," Rohit Sharma said at the press conference.
He also discussed the difficulties experienced by Indian players while casting light on their availability for the domestic event.
"But the last six-seven years—I can at least tell about what has happened with me since I've started playing Test cricket regularly, which is from 2019—you hardly have any time. When you play so much international cricket throughout the year, you need some time off as well as a cricketer just to refresh, get your mind right, and be ready for the upcoming season. But we have addressed it now, and nobody takes it for granted or anything like that,” he added.
He further added that Indian team players playing in domestic cricket is not only beneficial for them; it also strengthens the domestic structure of Indian cricket.
"And those who are available and fit, obviously, you expect people to play. I don't think it is a diktat. It's one of the things that BCCI has obviously put forward. As selectors, we expect people, when they're available, to play because that can only strengthen our domestic structure. Not just for their form or their fitness and playing cricket, but it can only strengthen our domestic structure,” Rohit signed off.
Rohit Sharma has made himself available for Mumbai’s next Ranji Trophy match, against Jammu & Kashmir, next week. Among India's Test regulars, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant are also set to play in the next round of games.
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