In a striking revelation that promises to ignite the competitive spirit of Indian domestic cricket, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhimanyu Easwaran have been appointed as captains of the four squads participating in the prestigious Duleep Trophy. Cricbuzz has reported that a significant number of players from India’s senior squads will compete in the tournament’s inaugural round, with notable exceptions being Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. Additionally, the selectors have chosen to rest R Ashwin, while Mohammed Shami continues his rehabilitation process.
Shubman Gill will be at the helm of Team A, leading a star-studded squad that includes talents such as Riyan Parag, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, and Kuldeep Yadav. This formation is anticipated to bring a balanced combination of explosive batting and dynamic bowling to the tournament, making them formidable contenders in the competition.
Meanwhile, Abhimanyu Easwaran will guide Team B, which boasts promising youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, and experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant. This team appears to possess a robust blend of youth and experience, with a potential for versatile performances across all formats of the game. All-rounder Nitish Reddy is also part of Team B, although his participation hinges on his fitness clearance.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to lead Team C, which includes a powerhouse batting lineup with Suryakumar Yadav, Sai Sudharsan, and Rajat Patidar. The firepower in the batting department suggests that this team will be aiming for big totals and aggressive chases. Alongside these batting heavyweights, the squad includes talents like Abishek Porel in the wicketkeeping department, ensuring a well-rounded unit poised for a compelling run in the competition.
Shreyas Iyer will captain Team D, bringing with him the likes of Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Axar Patel.
. This squad is replete with players capable of game-changing performances, making them another team to watch out for. The presence of reliable bowlers such as Arshdeep Singh further strengthens their lineup, ensuring that all facets of the game are well covered.
Adding to the strategic depth of these teams, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that players selected for India’s home Test series against Bangladesh will be replaced in the Duleep Trophy squads to ensure seamless participation in both commitments. This move indicates the importance placed on the tournament and reflects a strategic maneuver to balance international and domestic engagements.
The Duleep Trophy is scheduled to commence on September 5 and will be held at Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur and the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The first-class cricket tournament is expected to provide intense action and competition, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian cricket. The tournament will culminate on September 22, marking a significant milestone in the domestic cricket calendar.
This announcement follows a July update from Cricbuzz hinting at the increased involvement of national team players in the Duleep Trophy, aiming to elevate the quality and viewership of domestic cricket. The teams, brimming with talent and led by proficient captains, are expected to breathe new life into the trophy, making it a spectacle of high-caliber cricket.
Here is the detailed list of players selected for the four squads:
**Team A:**
– Shubman Gill (C)
– Mayank Agarwal
– Riyan Parag
– Dhruv Jurel
– KL Rahul
– Tilak Varma
– Shivam Dube
– Tanush Kotian
– Kuldeep Yadav
– Akash Deep
– Prasidh Krishna
– Khaleel Ahmed
– Avesh Khan
– Vidwath Kaverappa
– Kumar Kushagra
– Shaswat Rawat
**Team B:**
– Abhimanyu Easwaran (C)
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Sarfaraz Khan
– Rishabh Pant
– Musheer Khan
– Nitish Kumar Reddy (subject to fitness)
– Washington Sundar
– Ravindra Jadeja
– Mohd Siraj
– Yash Dayal
– Mukesh Kumar
– Rahul Chahar
– R Sai Kishore
– Mohit Awasthi
– N Jagadeesan (WK)
**Team C:**
– Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
– Sai Sudharsan
– Rajat Patidar
– Abishek Porel (WK)
– Suryakumar Yadav
– B Indrajith
– Hrithik Shokeen
– Manav Suthar
– Umran Malik
– Vyshak Vijaykumar
– Anshul Khamboj
– Himanshu Chauhan
– Mayank Markande
– Aryan Juyal (WK)
– Sandeep Warrier
**Team D:**
– Shreyas Iyer (C)
– Atharva Taide
– Yash Dubey
– Devdutt Padikkal
– Ishan Kishan (WK)
– Ricky Bhui
– Saransh Jain
– Axar Patel
– Arshdeep Singh
– Aditya Thakare
– Harshit Rana
– Tushar Deshpande
– Akash Sengupta
– KS Bharat (WK)
– Saurabh Kumar
As the Duleep Trophy edges closer, anticipation builds around how these well-balanced squads will perform under their respective captains. The upcoming games promise to deliver not just individual brilliance but also strategic team efforts, making this a highly anticipated event on the cricketing calendar.