The 2024-25 domestic season for senior men’s cricket in India is set to begin with the Duleep Trophy, commencing on September 5th and concluding on September 22nd. Several key Indian international players will be participating in this tournament, which has undergone a revamp this year. The Duleep Trophy will be played in a round-robin format, featuring India A, India B, India C, and India D teams, with no knockout matches. This tournament serves as a crucial opportunity for players to impress selectors and earn a spot in the Indian squad for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
While numerous young players are eager to make their mark, the absence of certain established players from the Duleep Trophy squads could indicate their potential future exclusion from the Indian Test team. Here are five players who may have played their last Test matches for India:
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Cheteshwar Pujara:
The veteran batsman last donned the Indian Test jersey during the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final and has not been selected for the Test squad since. Despite playing for his domestic team, Saurashtra, in the last Ranji Trophy season and also representing Sussex in the County Championship in England, Pujara was excluded from all Duleep Trophy squads this year. Considering the abundance of young middle-order batters waiting for their chance, it seems unlikely that Pujara will feature in whites for India again.*
Ajinkya Rahane:
Similar to Pujara, Rahane finds himself facing a similar situation. His last Test appearance for India came in the West Indies in 2023, and he has not been selected since. The 36-year-old captain led Mumbai to a Ranji Trophy title last season. Although Rahane participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, his absence from the Duleep Trophy squads hints at his potential exclusion from future Test matches.*
Hanuma Vihari:
Vihari, remembered for his heroic knock at the Gabba in 2021, has not played a Test match in the last two years. His last Test appearance was in England in 2022. Despite being a regular for his domestic team, Andhra, Vihari has not had a significant season with the bat, making it challenging for selectors to consider him for a comeback in the Indian Test squad.*
Umesh Yadav:
With the emergence of a plethora of young fast bowlers, Umesh found himself out of the Indian side after the WTC final in 2023. Following his exclusion, Umesh returned to domestic cricket to play for Vidarbha. However, considering the number of fast bowlers selected in the Duleep Trophy teams, the 36-year-old may struggle to convince the selectors to give him another opportunity at the international level.*
