Team India captain Rohit Sharma said that domestic tournaments like Ranji Trophy are very important to select the team for Tests and ODIs. The IPL is also an important tournament for selection, but its arrival has not diminished the importance of India’s major domestic competitions. India lost 2–0 in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, the first match of the series being a tie. India have lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka since 1997. In this match, Indian batsmen were seen struggling on Sri Lanka’s slow pitch.

After the match, Rohit Sharma was asked in the press conference whether he would advise the young Indian batsmen to play more domestic cricket. Responding to this, Rohit said that India’s domestic structure is most important in terms of selecting players for Test and ODI teams. “Our aim has always been to decide which player is available to play the Ranji Trophy. Our domestic cricket is the backbone of our international cricket. Many players who are currently representing the country have come from playing domestic cricket, so our domestic cricket is important for all. The only thing to watch out for is that it remains a rival.’ “We get players from the domestic circuit, not the IPL. When you select players for Test and ODI cricket, there is a lot of discussion about who is doing well in Ranji Trophy, ODI format, Syed Mushtaq Ali and other such competitions’. Elaborating on the importance, Rohit said that this league has its own importance. “IPL is a format where the challenges are different. These two are in competition. IPL is also our cricket. This is the Indian Premier League. In the end whoever will do well in all these tournaments. He will be chosen.’