The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not happy with South Zone’s decision to leave out top international players like KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj from their squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The tournament, which starts on August 28 in Bengaluru, is considered a key stage for both domestic and national-level players to prove their mettle.

South Zone announced their squad on July 27, but it didn’t include several high-profile names such as Rahul, Siraj, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, or Sai Sudharsan — all of whom are reportedly available during the current off-season. The decision didn’t sit well with the BCCI, which quickly stepped in.

In an email sent last week to zonal convenors and state associations, BCCI general manager of cricket operations Abey Kuruvilla stressed that all fit and available India players must be part of the Duleep Trophy to maintain the tournament’s standard and reputation.

“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.

The directive reflects the BCCI’s long-standing policy that all centrally contracted players are expected to feature in domestic cricket unless they have formal approval for leave. Earlier this year, the board had reminded players not to prioritise IPL over first-class cricket and reiterated this after India’s Test tour of Australia in January.

While the BCCI’s message came after the South Zone squad was already announced — with Tilak Varma named captain — it’s unclear whether selectors will revise the team.

In contrast, other top India players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Shreyas Iyer are expected to represent their respective zones in the tournament.

However, the BCCI’s push hasn’t come without criticism. Some state associations argue that bringing India stars into zonal teams takes away opportunities from Ranji Trophy performers, who have earned their spots through consistent domestic success. Many feel that India A games or fixtures like the Board President’s XI would be better suited for returning internationals, leaving zonal tournaments as a reward for domestic excellence.

Still, the BCCI has made its position clear: if players want to be considered for national selection, they must play domestic cricket unless they have a compelling reason and prior approval from both the selectors and national coach.

This year, the Duleep Trophy has reverted to its traditional zonal format, with teams now picked by zonal selectors instead of the national panel — adding another layer of scrutiny to selection decisions.