In a significant development for the Indian domestic cricket circuit, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhimanyu Easwaran have been named as captains for their respective squads in the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The BCCI has confirmed these appointments, setting the stage for an exciting tournament slated to begin on September 5.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, the majority of players from India’s senior squads will be participating in the first round of the tournament. Notably absent from the list are marquee names such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. Additionally, star spinner R Ashwin has not been selected, and fast bowler Mohammed Shami continues his rehabilitation process.
Shubman Gill will lead Team A, which boasts a formidable lineup featuring seasoned campaigners and budding stars alike. The squad includes KL Rahul, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, and Kuldeep Yadav among others. The balance of experience and talent in this team makes them a formidable contender.
On the other hand, Abhimanyu Easwaran will wear the captain’s armband for Team B. This team features young prodigies like Yashasvi Jaiswal and established names such as Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant. Nitish Reddy has also been included in the squad, although his participation is subject to clearing fitness tests.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead Team C, which is backed by reliable and dynamic batsmen like Suryakumar Yadav, Sai Sudharsan, and Rajat Patidar. This team is further strengthened by the presence of aggressive wicket-keeper Abishek Porel and a versatile bowling lineup.
Shreyas Iyer, another prominent face in Indian cricket, will captain Team D. The squad is packed with talent, including Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh.
. The team is expected to showcase a high level of performance, given the depth and quality of its lineup.
The BCCI has also made provisions to replace players picked for the home Test series against Bangladesh. This move ensures that the Duleep Trophy maintains its competitive edge, even as the national team commitments overlap. The tournament will be held at two key locations: Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur and the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The first-class tournament will conclude on September 22.
In a nod to the rising importance of domestic cricket, the BCCI’s squad selections reflect Cricbuzz’s earlier update from mid-July, indicating a potential increase in the inclusion of national team players in the Duleep Trophy. This marks a significant step in bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket for many aspiring cricketers.
To provide a closer look at the 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, and Shaswat Rawat.
Team B:
Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Musheer Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Yash Dayal, Mukesh Kumar, Rahul Chahar, R Sai Kishore, Mohit Awasthi, and 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), and 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), and Saurabh Kumar.
*Subject to clearing fitness tests
The tournament’s commencement is eagerly awaited not only by the players and selectors but also by cricket enthusiasts who see the Duleep Trophy as a vital platform for emerging talent. With such a diverse mix of established and young cricketers, the tournament promises a showcase of competitive cricket and a glimpse into the future stars of Indian cricket. All eyes will be on the captains and their squads as they vie for the prestigious Duleep Trophy title.