Duleep Trophy Squads: Virat Kohli Gives It A Miss, But Ishan Kishan Makes A Comeback

Duleep Trophy Squads: The Duleep Trophy, renowned for its role in shaping India’s cricketing future, is once again set to capture the nation’s attention. The 2024 edition, commencing on September 5 in Anantapur and Bengaluru, promises to be a thrilling spectacle with a mix of emerging stars and seasoned professionals. This year’s squads have been revealed, and while the absence of some big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has raised eyebrows, the return of Ishan Kishan and the presence of exciting young talents have added a fresh dynamic to the tournament.

Duleep Trophy 2024: Full Squad Breakdown

The BCCI has unveiled the squads for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, and the lineup has sparked a flurry of discussion among cricket fans and experts alike. Here’s a detailed look at the squads and the key players to watch:

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, 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, Abhishek 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.

Key Absences: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

The notable absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Duleep Trophy squads has been a major talking point. The decision to exclude these senior players is aimed at managing their workloads and ensuring their readiness for international fixtures. According to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, “Apart from them, everyone else is playing. You should appreciate that. One must note that Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer are playing in the Buchi Babu tournament. We should not insist on players like Rohit and Virat to play in the Duleep Trophy. They will risk injury. If you have noticed, in Australia and England, every international player does not play domestic cricket. We have to treat the players with respect.”

The Return of Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan’s return to competitive cricket through the Duleep Trophy is a significant highlight. Kishan, who had been removed from the BCCI’s central contract list due to his absence from the Ranji Trophy, will be representing Team D as a wicketkeeper. His inclusion is seen as an opportunity to regain form and demonstrate his readiness for higher levels of competition.

Emerging Talents and Seasoned Pros

This edition of the Duleep Trophy features a compelling mix of young talent and experienced players. Emerging stars like Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Devdutt Padikkal will be joined by seasoned professionals such as KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Rishabh Pant. The tournament will also see the return of Suryakumar Yadav, who will be playing for Team C. His dynamic batting and fielding skills are expected to add an exciting edge to the competition.

Rinku Singh’s Absence

Another intriguing aspect is the absence of Rinku Singh, a fan-favorite who has been in the limelight recently. His exclusion has prompted discussions about selection criteria and the potential impact on Team performance.

Conclusion

The Duleep Trophy 2024 promises to be a riveting affair with a blend of emerging talents and experienced players. While the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may have disappointed some fans, the tournament remains a crucial platform for showcasing India’s cricketing talent. With players like Ishan Kishan and a host of promising young cricketers in the mix, the competition is set to be fiercely contested. Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting season of domestic cricket as the Duleep Trophy begins its new chapter on September 5.