A spot in the Duleep Trophy used to be highly sought after. It indicated that the concerned party was getting closer to joining the Indian Test team. Taking place on a zonal basis, it provided a stage for the nation’s top players, both established and young, to showcase their skills against one another. This gave the selectors the amazing chance to sort of separate the men from the boys.
The event started to lose its luster gradually as India’s overseas commitments grew and the veteran Test players were either away on national service or resting up for the next trials. It eventually amounted to little more than a formality and was removed off the domestic schedule for 2017–18.
That will all change on Thursday, when the four-day competition in Bengaluru and Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, officially kicks off the domestic first-class season in India. Even while it won’t be contested in the well-liked zonal format, this edition has more significance and gravity, in part because India will play Bangladesh in Chennai starting on September 19 in the first of 10 Test matches that will take place over the following four months.
Almost all of the best players in Indian cricket will be competing in the first round of matches, which will include the ridiculously called India A, B, C, and D teams. It seems like forever has passed. In a clear departure from tradition, the national selectors’ initial announcement of the squads on August 14 featured only four players who were granted leave of absence: Test and One-Day International captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and R Ashwin.
Then, for various reasons, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja were also rested; Mohammed Shami is still recovering from surgery, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan will miss the opening round due to injuries sustained in the Buchi Babu tournament last week; otherwise, the finest players in Indian cricket will be lining up to showcase their skills as the team for the two Bangladesh Test matches is about to be chosen.
At most, there are only a few positions up for grabs, with the majority choosing themselves based on reputation, previous performance, and pedigree. India’s most recent Test match was back in March, when they triumphantly overcame England in Dharamsala by an innings to finish with an incredible 4-1 comeback. Following that, limited-overs cricket has been the sole available sport, with the thrilling victory in the T20 World Cup in June serving as the highlight. As a result, as India approaches an inevitable moment of change, the decision-makers will look to the past, but they will also maintain a close watch on a few players who have been on their radar for some time and who will play a significant role soon.
