The 2024-25 Indian domestic cricket season is set to begin with the Duleep Trophy, scheduled to commence on Thursday, September 05. This year, the tournament adopts a new format, abandoning the zonal system and introducing four teams: India A, B, C, and D. These teams will compete in a round-robin format, eliminating any knockout stages.
Leading India D is the experienced batsman Shreyas Iyer, who is eager to make a comeback to the national team after losing his BCCI central contract. The team’s composition reflects a blend of talent and ambition, with players keen to prove their worth and potentially earn a place in the Indian national squad.
While wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is also aiming for a return to the national side, he is unlikely to feature in the first-round match. However, the team boasts a formidable middle-order featuring Devdutt Padikkal, Shreyas Iyer, and Ricky Bhui, with KS Bharat providing a solid presence in the lower order and also serving as the wicketkeeper. The spin department is anchored by all-rounders Axar Patel and Saransh Jain, who can also contribute with the bat.
The youthful pace trio of Arshdeep Singh, Tushar Deshpande, and Harshit Rana adds further depth and aggression to the team. This mix of experience, talent, and ambition makes India D a well-rounded and competitive unit.
The predicted starting XI for India D’s first match against India C is: Atharva Taide, Yash Dubey, Devdutt Padikkal, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ricky Bhui, KS Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, Saransh Jain, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Tushar Deshpande. The Duleep Trophy promises to be a thrilling start to the domestic season, with India D poised to challenge for the title.
