Indian iconic former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar felt that BCCI president Sourav Ganguly should give a new and improvised format to the Duleep Trophy as players competing in the event seem more focused on individual performance than that of their team.
Tendulkar feels that team bonding is missing in the four-day tournament. He was quoted by PTI as saying, “I want him (Ganguly) to consider looking at the Duleep Trophy. I feel Duleep Trophy is one tournament where one is getting to hear that players are possibly more focused on their own performances and what the next tournament is and they play accordingly.”
“For instance, if there’s an IPL auction, or an upcoming T20 tournament or one-day, players end up playing in that mode and not for their team or looking at the need of the hour,” he said.
When Ganguly took charge chairs the BCCI’s first Annual General Meeting on Sunday, Tendulkar wants him to spare some time focussing on Duleep Trophy.
“This is one change I would like to see because cricket has always been a team sport. It is all about team spirit, bonding and playing together as a team. Not as individuals,” he said.
“You pick these players from various teams and also promote talented age-group players from Under-19 and Under-23,” he added.
“If there’s someone exceptionally talented U-19 then you can look at those players. Bring them and have this tournament together,” he said.
“So you have got the best of both. You have got four leading Ranji teams who have been playing together,” he added.
