India, Sept. 1 -- Duleep Trophy is meant to be the stage for India's best players, but after a gruelling five-Test series in England, it has been rest-and-recovery for the top players before the T20 Asia Cup. Test captain Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel, named in the North and Central Zone, also opted out late citing illness.

The two first-round matches of the inter-zonal tournament played last week thus proved low key affairs. The national selectors were present at the Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru but didn't get to see the expected level of performances. North Zone pacer Auqib Nabi was the only one to draw serious attention with four wickets in four balls.

Among the India players, only East Zone's Mohammed Shami showed he is in a condi...