The 2024-25 Indian domestic cricket season is set to begin with the Duleep Trophy, kicking off on Thursday, September 05th. The tournament, however, will feature a new format this year. Gone is the zonal system, replaced by four teams – India A, B, C, and D – who will compete in a round-robin league. The traditional knockout games are no longer part of the competition.
India A, led by the talented opener Shubman Gill, will commence their campaign against India B at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The 16-member squad features a star-studded lineup, including two openers besides Gill – Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul. With Gill’s recent preference for batting at number three in Test matches, the opening slot is likely to be a contest between Agarwal and Rahul.
The squad also includes Dhruv Jurel, who impressed on his Test debut against England earlier this year. He is set to take on the wicketkeeping duties for India A. The team boasts a formidable pace attack, comprising Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan. Kuldeep Yadav, India’s leading left-arm wrist-spinner, will spearhead the spin department.
India A Predicted XI vs India B
Two possible lineups for India A have emerged:
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Option 1:
Shubman Gill (c), Mayank Agarwal, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag, Kuldeep Yadav, Tanush Kotian, Akash Deep/Vidwath Kaverappa, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed.*
Option 2:
Shubman Gill (c), Mayank Agarwal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Tanush Kotian, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Vidwath Kaverappa, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Shaswat Rawat.The Duleep Trophy is a prestigious tournament that serves as a platform for emerging players to showcase their talents and potentially earn a spot in the Indian national team. The new format promises exciting competition and is sure to provide fans with an engaging spectacle of domestic cricket.
