Team India head coach Rahul Dravid has admitted that the management is keen to include the national team players in the Ranji Trophy knockouts. However, he pointed out that doing so will be tough as preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will begin soon.
The quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy will begin on January 31. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin on February 9. However, before the Test series against the Aussies, the Indian team will gather for a week-long preparation camp.
At a press conference on Monday, January 23, ahead of the third ODI against New Zealand, Dravid was asked if there was any possibility of some of India’s Test players participating in the Ranji Trophy knockout. He replied:
“We want the players to play Ranji Trophy games. But it is difficult for us. The quarter-finals are on the 31st, and so is our build-up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “
When the series starts, if someone in our team doesn’t get a chance to play, we will try to get them into the team during the Ranji.