In a recent announcement that has sent ripples through the cricketing community, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhimanyu Easwaran have been appointed as captains of the four squads participating in this year’s Duleep Trophy. This prestigious annual first-class cricket tournament in India will kick off on September 5 and see its conclusion on September 22. The excitement is palpable as some of India’s most talented cricketers make their return to the domestic stage following international commitments. Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur and the renowned Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru are set to host the tournament.
As reported by Cricbuzz, a majority of the players who form the core of India’s senior squads have been drafted into the Duleep Trophy’s initial rounds. However, a few notable exceptions include star players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. Additionally, the selectors have decided against including veteran spinner R Ashwin, while fast bowler Mohammed Shami is continuing his rehabilitation and thus unavailable for participation.
Team A will be under the leadership of Shubman Gill, a promising young talent who has already made a significant mark on the international stage. Gill’s squad boasts several recognizable faces, including Riyan Parag, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, and the versatile Kuldeep Yadav. Focus is high on this team, as many of its members have showcased exceptional performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Indian national team.
Abhimanyu Easwaran, another rising star, will captain Team B. Easwaran’s squad is brimming with talent, featuring players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. Although allrounder Nitish Reddy is included in Team B, his actual participation remains contingent upon passing fitness tests.
. The mix of seasoned campaigners and young prodigies in this lineup makes them a formidable force in the competition.
Captaining Team C is Ruturaj Gaikwad, an exciting player known for his exceptional stroke play. His squad includes heavy hitters like Suryakumar Yadav, Rajat Patidar, and Sai Sudharsan who bolster the batting lineup. Ishan Kishan, another dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, will be making his return to action in the tournament, this time as a part of Team D. This squad, led by Shreyas Iyer, also features promising talents such as Devdutt Padikkal, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh among others.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that players chosen to represent India in the home Test series against Bangladesh will be substituted in the Duleep Trophy squads. This decision aims to maintain a high standard of cricket in both international and domestic matches, ensuring a competitive edge in every game.
Cricbuzz had hinted at this strategic inclusion of national team players in the Duleep Trophy squads as early as mid-July, suggesting an increased focus on strengthening domestic tournaments through the participation of top-level talent. With the tournament’s commencement just around the corner, excitement among fans and players alike is reaching a fever pitch.
Here is a detailed breakdown of 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
– Shaswat Rawat
**Team B:**
– Abhimanyu Easwaran (C)
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Sarfaraz Khan
– Rishabh Pant
– Musheer Khan
– Nitish Kumar Reddy* (fitness dependent)
– 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 lyer (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 teams gear up for the tournament, the anticipation is whether the seasoned experience of international stars or the raw potential of young talents will emerge as the defining factor. The upcoming weeks promise an exhilarating showcase of cricketing skills, strategies, and sportsmanship. Fans are eagerly awaiting the matchups, and with such a rich assembly of talent, the Duleep Trophy 2023 is poised to be a memorable event in the annals of Indian cricket.
Let the games begin!