The 2024-25 Indian domestic cricket season is set to begin with the Duleep Trophy, commencing on Thursday, September 05. This year’s tournament brings a fresh format, replacing the zonal system with four teams: India A, B, C, and D. These teams will battle it out in a round-robin format, eliminating the knockout stages.
Leading India A is Ruturaj Gaikwad, captaining a team filled with young talent, eager to prove their mettle on the national stage. The squad boasts a strong batting lineup, with Gaikwad likely to open the innings alongside the stylish Tamil Nadu batsman, Sai Sudharsan, who recently impressed with a century in the County Championship in England. Rajat Patidar, coming off a less-than-ideal start to his Test career earlier this year against England, will be keen to make a statement at number three.
The middle order will miss the presence of India’s T20I skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, who is sidelined due to an injury sustained during the Buchi Babu Tournament. This presents an opportunity for prolific domestic run-scorer Baba Indrajith to solidify the middle order. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Sandeep Warrier, while all-rounder Hrithik Shokeen, Manav Suthar, and Mayank Markande will handle spin bowling duties.
Here’s a look at the predicted XI for India C’s first match against India D:
India C Predicted XI:
* Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
* Sai Sudharsan
* Rajat Patidar
* Baba Indrajith
* Abishek Porel (wk)
* Hrithik Shokeen
* Manav Suthar
* Vyshak Vijaykumar
* Gaurav Yadav
* Sandeep Warrier
* Mayank Markande
The Duleep Trophy promises to be an exciting battleground for these young players to showcase their skills and make their mark on the Indian cricket scene.
