As India prepares for a refreshing red-ball challenge after an extended spell of short-form cricket, the 2024 Duleep Trophy emerges as the perfect springboard for the forthcoming 10 Test matches over the next four and a half months. The tournament kicks off on September 5, featuring the crème de la crème of India’s domestic talent. It promises to be a platform where players will not only acclimate to the distinct tempo of the longer format but also strive to leave a lasting impression.
While most of the Test team slots, including the backup positions, are more or less predetermined, several questions remain unanswered, particularly in the area that is most susceptible to fluctuations — fast bowling. Mohammed Shami’s injury and his prolonged recuperation since his performance at the ODI World Cup have necessitated the search for a reliable third seamer. Earlier this year, Mukesh Kumar seemed the primary candidate for this role during the Tests against England. However, his lackluster performance in Visakhapatnam paved the way for Akash Deep, whose impactful display in his lone Test earned him the spot.
Yet, the quest for a solid third or fourth seamer remains wide open and will be a focal point during the Duleep Trophy. Apart from Mukesh and Akash, a plethora of pacers are vying for the position. These include Prasidh Krishna, who missed out on the recently concluded Maharaja T20 Trophy due to injury and will also miss the opening game of the Duleep Trophy.
Among other contenders are Khaleel Ahmed, who has yet to establish his credentials as a reliable red-ball bowler, and Avesh Khan, who is knocking on the doors of selection. Additional names include Yash Dayal, Vidwath Kaverappa, and Vyshak Vijaykumar, all of whom have excelled in domestic cricket but are awaiting opportunities at the international level. Sandeep Warrier, Tushar Deshpande, Harshit Rana, and Navdeep Saini are also in the fray, each bringing a unique set of skills to the table.
The selectors and team management face the challenging task of preparing for the next five months, during which they will seek pacers who can perform well in India, offer something different in Australia, and have the potential for long-term success.
Former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, who served until India’s recent T20 World Cup victory, sees this as an opportunity to evaluate bowlers across various metrics. “There’s quite a lot of Test cricket here. You will require a pool of bowlers to last the 10 Test matches that India are playing because at some point you’d have to rest Bumrah or Siraj. Good to see that some of them are in the reckoning or close to selection,” Mhambrey told Cricbuzz.
“Minutely observe how these bowlers perform in different phases. On flatter wickets, it’s a different trial. Assessing their performance in the third or fourth spells provides a clear understanding of their fitness and game reading. Many of these bowlers are at different stages of their careers, so we can shortlist six or seven quality fast bowlers to rely on and rotate,” Mhambrey adds.
The selection process will not be straightforward, considering the pool of 17 frontline pacers spread across four Duleep Trophy teams.
. With Bengaluru and Anantapur offering specific playing conditions, team management and captains might not be inclined to field more than two pacers per lineup. However, rotation among these players is likely, as is common in such tournaments.
“If you feel a particular bowler is in the scheme of things, I’m sure the selectors could have a word with the captains,” Mhambrey elaborates. “They might want to see him bowl in specific phases of the game. This can happen as the tournament progresses. Bowling against quality opposition, if you are taking wickets here, you definitely put yourself up for selection.”
Adding another layer to the selection criteria is preparing for some of the more challenging tours ahead. Mhambrey is already looking at the England tour next year, but the immediate focus is on the marquee tour to Australia in a little over two months. From the pool, only Navdeep Saini has prior red-ball experience in those conditions.
“In India, you’re not going to play more than two seamers due to wicket conditions,” Mhambrey explains. “In Australia, the Kookaburra ball behaves differently, and you need to capitalize on the first 30-35 overs when the ball is relatively new. You need bowlers who can exploit those conditions. Bounce will be crucial, and I’d like to see how someone like Prasidh shapes up. If he has a great Duleep Trophy, he could be our third seamer who brings a different dimension.”
The Karnataka pacer, recovering from a quadriceps injury, will miss the opening game, though he has been part of the training group for Team A. Whether he will feature later in the tournament remains to be seen.
Mhambrey also emphasizes the search for a left-arm pace option. “Khaleel, Dayal, and Arshdeep are set to participate. We need one of them to step up, offering a different angle and skillset to the team,” he says.
For immediate series options, like the one against Bangladesh, current form could be the decisive factor. “For someone like Avesh or Khaleel, who has been in and out, coming in great form could position them as the third or fourth seamer,” Mhambrey notes, citing the example of how Akash Deep earned his spot against England based on recent performances against the England Lions. In this way, instant dividends might be on the horizon for those making an immediate impact.