Duleep Trophy: Frontrunners for Indian team selection competing in the domestic league

The highly anticipated domestic tournament, the Duleep Trophy, commenced on September 5. This edition of the red-ball series has gained notable importance within the Indian Test setup. With the conclusion of the ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, the focus is now shifting back to the longest format of the game. As the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final approaches, teams are eager to secure their places in this prestigious match. India, currently leading the WTC standings, must maintain strong performances throughout the upcoming home Test season to ensure a top finish and a spot in the ultimate Test match of 2025 which is scheduled for June 11 to June 15th next year.

Duleep Trophy playing the key role in Indian Team Selection for the Bangladesh series

The Duleep Trophy will play a crucial role in shaping the selection of India’s Test squad for the forthcoming home series. India will commence their Test season in September with a two-match red-ball series against Bangladesh. The Indian team still has several spots to fill, including positions in the middle-order, the primary wicket-keeping role, and a place in the pace lineup, particularly in the absence of Mohammed Shami and likely Jasprit Bumrah as well. Therefore, performances in the Duleep Trophy will heavily influence the selection for the upcoming international Test series. Moreover, a strong showing in the Bangladesh series could open doors for players to be considered for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia later this year.

Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan finally received his maiden Test call-up for India in the home Test series against England earlier this year after a prolonged wait. The 26-year-old, known for his impressive first-class records, seized the opportunity by scoring two half-centuries on his debut in Rajkot. Since then, the England tour was India’s most recent series in the longest format. Sarfaraz’s commendable performance in this series positions him as a strong contender for a spot in India’s middle-order against Bangladesh.

However, the scenario for the upcoming season may differ from the England series. Sarfaraz will face substantial competition for a place in India’s crowded middle-order for the Test series. The competition will be fierce with senior players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul returning to the selection mix. Kohli missed the England series, while Rahul was injured after playing just the first Test in Hyderabad.

Additionally, Shreyas Iyer’s name has resurfaced following his performances in the domestic circuit. Despite facing exclusion from the BCCI’s central contract list due to concerns over his commitment to domestic cricket, Iyer is back in the domestic setup. If he performs well in the initial rounds, his Test experience could give him an edge over Sarfaraz for a spot in the squad.

KL Rahul

With Rishabh Pant returning to red-ball cricket through the Duleep Trophy, the competition for the middle-order slot has intensified. KL Rahul, who was ruled out during the England series earlier this year, left space for Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal to join the Indian XI. As India prepares to resume Test cricket after a long stretch, KL Rahul will use the Duleep Trophy to reinforce his credentials.

While Rahul has displayed subpar performances in white-ball formats recently, his outing in his last three Test matches which included a century and a half-century are likely to strengthen his case for Indian team selection. However, he will need to compete with the likes of Iyer and Sarfaraz in the Duleep Trophy to secure his place in the playing XI for the Bangladesh Tests and potentially for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh has already established himself as a key pacer in T20 cricket, playing a pivotal role in India’s T20 World Cup victory earlier this year. Despite his success in the shortest format, the 25-year-old is yet to secure a spot in the Indian red-ball setup. Arshdeep has a record of 49 First-Class wickets scalped at an average of 31.97. While he is leading the race for the selection, Arshdeep will face strong competition from Khaleel Ahmed and Yash Dayal in the Duleep Trophy, both of whom had impressive performances during the recent IPL season. However, with Mohammed Shami ruled out of the series, Arshdeep has a chance to make a mark. But before his place in the Indian team materializes, Arshdeep will need to deliver strong performances in the Duleep Trophy to solidify his place in the Bangladesh series.

Top contenders who missed out on the Duleep Trophy

Other players who had eyes on them included the likes of Ishan Kishan and Prasidh Krishna. Ishan Kishan, like Shreyas Iyer, aimed to make a strong comeback in the domestic circuit to regain the BCCI’s confidence. Unfortunately, Kishan sustained a groin injury while playing for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Trophy, resulting in his exclusion from the first round of the Duleep Trophy just before it began. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna faces a challenging path back to full fitness as he continues to deal with persistent injuries.