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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-member Rest of India (RoI) squad for the upcoming Irani Cup. The prestigious match will take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from October 1 to October 5, where the RoI squad will face the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 champions Mumbai.
Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead Rest of India squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the captain of the Rest of India squad. Gaikwad recently led India C in the Duleep Trophy 2024, where his team reached the finals. His leadership qualities and recent form have made him an ideal candidate for this role. Joining him will be Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has been named vice-captain, along with key players from the domestic circuit.
Comeback for the Irani Cup
Ishan Kishan, who scored a century in his recent Duleep Trophy outing, continues his comeback to red-ball cricket with his selection in the RoI squad. Kishan is one of two wicketkeepers in the squad, alongside Dhruv Jurel, who may also be involved in India’s second Test against Bangladesh. Kishan’s inclusion is significant as he works his way back into national contention after losing his central contract earlier this year.
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Dual commitments and potential return
Both Yash Dayal and Dhruv Jurel have been named in the Rest of India squad but may miss the Irani Cup clash if they are selected for India’s second Test against Bangladesh, which overlaps with the Irani Cup. Dayal, the left-arm pacer, has been a standout in recent domestic tournaments, while Jurel’s wicketkeeping and middle-order capabilities have earned him attention.
Sarfaraz Khan, part of the Indian Test squad, is set to represent Mumbai if he is not included in India’s playing XI for the second Test. His inclusion in the Mumbai squad, led by Ajinkya Rahane, will strengthen the team as they prepare to face RoI in the Irani Cup. Sarfaraz has consistently been among the top performers in domestic cricket, and his form will be crucial for Mumbai.
“Dhruv Jurel and Yash Dayal have been selected in the Rest of India squad and their participation is subject to them not being involved in the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur. The 2nd Test will begin from 27th September. Sarfaraz Khan who has been retained in the Team India squad for the 2nd Test, will be released to represent the Mumbai team subject to him not being involved in the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Emerging stars and performers from Duleep Trophy
Several players who shone in the Duleep Trophy 2024 have been rewarded with places in the Rest of India squad. Sai Sudharsan, a standout performer with the bat, and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar are among the new faces in the team. However, senior batter Mayank Agarwal, who captained India A to a Duleep Trophy win, was surprisingly left out of the squad.
Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup against Mumbai:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (wk)*, Ishan Kishan (wk), Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal*, Ricky Bhui, Shashwat Rawat, Khaleel Ahmed, Rahul Chahar.
