In a significant development for Indian domestic cricket, the captains for the upcoming Duleep Trophy have been announced. Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead the four squads in one of India’s premier first-class tournaments. This selection promises an exciting display of cricketing talent, as many players from India’s senior squads have been roped in for the event, with notable exceptions like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. Additionally, senior off-spinner R Ashwin has not been picked, while pace bowler Mohammed Shami continues his rehabilitation.
Shubman Gill will captain Team A, a squad brimming with potential and experience. It includes stars like Riyan Parag, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, and Kuldeep Yadav. Gill, known for his brilliant form and versatility, will aim to steer his team to success with a mix of experienced and young players. Remarkably, Gill has been recognized for his strategic acumen on the field, making him an apt choice for captaincy.
Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead Team B, which boasts a stellar lineup featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant. The team presents a balanced mix of batting prowess and all-round capabilities. Allrounder Nitish Reddy is also a part of the squad, though his participation is subject to passing fitness tests. Easwaran’s leadership will be crucial in orchestrating his team’s performance and ensuring a cohesive unit on the field.
Team C, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, features a formidable batting lineup, including Suryakumar Yadav, Sai Sudharsan, and Rajat Patidar. Gaikwad, who has shown consistent performances in the domestic circuit and Indian Premier League (IPL), will look to harness the potential of his squad and push for the Duleep Trophy title. The team appears well-rounded with young, dynamic talents poised to make significant impacts.
Shreyas Iyer will captain Team D, brimming with promising talents like Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh.
. Iyer, an established figure in Indian cricket, brings a wealth of experience and strategic depth to his leadership role. His squad reflects a blend of emerging stars and experienced campaigners, making it a force to be reckoned with in the tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that players selected for the India-Bangladesh home Test series will be replaced in their respective squads for the Duleep Trophy. This strategic move ensures that the tournament features fresh talent while providing opportunities to upcoming cricketers. The tournament, set to kick off on September 5, will see its matches hosted at Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur and the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Duleep Trophy is slated to conclude on September 22.
This year’s squads reflect a significant shift towards involving more national team players in domestic tournaments, a trend reported by Cricbuzz in mid-July. The aim is to provide them with ample match practice and keep them in form, especially with the upcoming international fixtures.
Let’s take a detailed look at the squads for the Duleep Trophy:
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, Mohammad 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.
The announcement of the squads has set the stage for an exhilarating Duleep Trophy, featuring a blend of seasoned internationals and promising domestic talents. As the cricketing fraternity looks forward to the tournament, the energy and anticipation surrounding the event are palpable. The Duleep Trophy not only serves as a platform for nurturing future stars but also provides invaluable match practice for players, ensuring they are battle-ready for forthcoming international engagements.