Xtra Time Web Desk : Team India head coach Rahul Dravid has made it mandatory for all the players to play domestic cricket for being eligible for Team India selection. This policy was previously applicable in the Kumble era, which Dravid has decided to restart. The decision comes as result of fitness issues to players like Hardik Pandya and Ishant Sharma, who don’t play regular domestic cricket in order to be match fit.
And speaking about this matter to InsideSport, a senior BCCI official said, “The policy was always there but it wasn’t strictly followed in the last few years. Rahul has made it mandatory for players to play in domestic cricket barring multi-format players. It’s very simple, if you are injured and recover, you have to play in domestic to prove that you are completely fit.”
Although this policy was not eligible under the reign of Ravi Shastri due to a tight schedule and back to back matches but it would be very interesting to see how Dravid makes application of this policy and helps Indian cricket to evolve further.