Fielding two teams simultaneously can be a norm: BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal

Fielding two teams simultaneously can be a norm: BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal.

In an unusual instance for cricket, Team India has decided to field two teams simultaneously due to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. While the senior cricketers will be engaged in the India-New Zealand summit clash in ICC WTC FInal, the second string Indian outfit will lock horns against Sri Lanka in a limited-overs series. BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal recently said that India fielding two teams at a time could become a norm as it gives players sufficient room to breathe and be sane.

Indian regular skipper Virat Kohli will lead the side which consists of the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah while Shikhar Dhawan has been given the reins of the second-string Indian team and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be his deputy.

“It is a definite possibility that India could play another limited-overs tour with a younger squad while the main team players are playing elsewhere or need a break. The COVID-19 related restrictions also need to be factored in,” Dhumal told PTI.

“It (two India squads) also shows the solid bench strength of the Indian team and gives us an opportunity to organise more bilateral cricket and help other boards which are facing financial challenges amid the pandemic.”

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Dhumal further stated that the cricket boards will have to come up with engaging ideas in order to make up for the bilateral series loss which occurred during these past 18 months.

“It is imperative to come up with new ideas to deal with the loss of bilateral cricket that has happened over the last 18 months,” he said.

Talking about the Women’s games in the country and their bilateral association, Dhumal said that the board is already taking all the necessary steps to ensure a solid women’s cricket culture in the country.

“Women’s cricket has come a long way after it came under the aegis of the BCCI. The sport will grow even more in the future and the board will leave no stone unturned to give more exposure and opportunity to budding women cricketers,” he asserted.

The Indian women’s team are currently engaged in the one-off Test series against England after 7 years. 

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