The Buchi Babu Invitation Cricket Tournament 2024 commenced on Thursday, bringing together top Indian and Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketers across four venues in Tamil Nadu. The first round of these four-day matches features some exciting names aiming to showcase their skills and potentially catch the eye of national selectors.
One of the most prominent names in the tournament is wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, playing for Jharkhand Cricket Association against Madhya Pradesh in Tirunelveli. This marks Kishan’s first red-ball match since July 2023, when he featured in India’s tour of the West Indies. He last played for India in November 2023 during the T20I series against Australia. Kishan has been out of favor with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and lost his central contract, but his performance in this tournament could pave the way for a return to the national team.
Sarfaraz Khan, the talented Mumbai-born batsman, made his Test debut earlier this year against England and impressed with scores of 62 and 68 in Rajkot. He is currently playing for Mumbai against Haryana in Coimbatore and will be eager to solidify his position in the Indian Test team. Alongside him is his 19-year-old brother Musheer, who impressed in India’s U19 World Cup campaign and Ranji Trophy earlier this year.
Another notable player in the tournament is the big-hitting Abdul Samad, hailing from the Jammu & Kashmir cricket circuit. He represents his state team against Chhattisgarh in Natham. Samad has been a regular for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL since 2020, but he is yet to have a breakout season.
Meanwhile, Vivrant Sharma, also from Jammu & Kashmir, had a promising IPL debut last year, scoring a quickfire 69 against Mumbai Indians.
Haryana’s pace bowler, Mohit Kamboj, has been a crucial part of the team’s recent success. He played a pivotal role in their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title last year, claiming 17 wickets in 10 matches, and later earned an IPL contract with Mumbai Indians. Sumit Kumar, another Haryana all-rounder, was instrumental in their Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph, picking up 18 wickets and scoring 183 runs, earning him an IPL contract with Delhi Capitals.
Finally, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, Rajat Sindhu, who played a key role in India’s U19 World Cup victory in 2022, is representing Haryana in the Buchi Babu tournament. He is yet to make his IPL debut but has shown promise in First-Class cricket.
The Buchi Babu Invitation Cricket Tournament 2024 offers a platform for emerging and established cricketers to showcase their skills and make their mark on the domestic stage. With a host of talented players in action, the tournament promises to be an exciting spectacle for cricket enthusiasts.
