In the unlikely event that they are not included in the playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh, which begins in Kanpur on September 27, middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, and bowler Yash Dayal will be dropped from the Indian squad for the Irani Cup.
The rest of India team, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, was unveiled by the BCCI on Tuesday. The team will play Mumbai, the defending Ranji Trophy winners, in Lucknow from October 1–5.
“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,” stated the BCCI announcement on Tuesday.
If reports are accurate, KL Rahul would be able to substitute for Rishabh Pant should he experience any discomfort during the test.
If Sarfaraz is left out of the starting XI for the second Test against Bangladesh, he will also play for his home team, which is captained by Ajinkya Rahane, according to reports from PTI on Monday. Sarfaraz is a prolific run scorer for Mumbai.
“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,” stated the BCCI statement.
The Irani Cup match will also mark Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur’s return to first-class cricket post surgery.
It is believed that every elite player, including Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani, Shreyas Iyer, and Musheer Khan, will represent Mumbai in the match.
It is also understood that Mumbai stalwart Suryakumar Yadav, who is India’s T20 skipper, and all-rounder Shivam Dube, both of whom are automatic picks in the Indian T20 squad, won’t be playing the Irani Cup as they would have to report in Gwalior on October 3 for the T20I series starting October 6.
Rest of India squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Abhimanyu Easwaran (v-c), 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.
