The Duleep Trophy, a domestic tournament starting in Bengaluru and Anantapur, offers a platform for Indian players to prove their mettle ahead of a crucial Test season. The focus is on Rishabh Pant’s red-ball return, the emergence of potential wicketkeeper-batters, and the selection of backup options for the pace attack.
The upcoming Duleep Trophy, starting September 5th, will see a plethora of Indian cricket stars vying for a spot in the Test team. The tournament becomes crucial as India faces a packed Test calendar, with players looking to solidify their positions and showcase their talents ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy and World Test Championship.
The Indian cricket team, victorious in the T20 World Cup, arrived in Delhi on Thursday after a delayed return due to Hurricane Beryl in Barbados. They were greeted by enthusiastic fans and are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi before celebrating with a victory parade and felicitation ceremony in Mumbai.
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir met with Home Minister Amit Shah, sparking speculation about his potential appointment as the next Indian cricket team coach. Gambhir, who recently expressed interest in the role, is considered a strong contender to replace Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup.
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has criticized the Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule, arguing that it hinders India’s preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. With England’s players unavailable for the IPL 2024 playoffs due to T20 World Cup commitments, Singh believes the BCCI should prioritize national team training camps ahead of major tournaments. India, who have not won an ICC trophy since 2013, begin their T20 World Cup campaign on June 5 in a tough Group A that includes Pakistan. Singh urged the BCCI to follow the England Cricket Board’s template of providing the national team with 4-5 matches against top teams like England or Australia in preparation for the tournament.
Rishabh Pant has made a remarkable comeback to the Indian national cricket team, being named in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. Pant’s return comes 16 months after a horrific car crash that threatened his career. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has been in impressive form for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, scoring 398 runs from 11 games and showcasing his fitness behind the stumps. Pant’s inclusion in the squad is expected to provide a boost to India’s middle order, as he is known for his big-match temperament and power-hitting capabilities.
Former Indian cricketers Irfan Pathan and Varun Aaron have sparked speculation around the possible inclusion of MS Dhoni in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Despite his retirement and nearly five-year absence from the national team, Aaron termed the suggestion ‘the wildest card’ while Pathan expressed that no one would deny Dhoni the chance if he desires to play.
