Cricket

In Indian domestic cricket, the Duleep Trophy has long served as a testing ground for emerging talent. After years of experimentation with formats and teams, the tournament has returned to its traditional region-wise format. This year's edition, commencing on September 4, 2024, will feature four teams named A, B, C, and D.The Duleep Trophy remains a significant event in the Indian cricket calendar, despite the rise of India-A as a stepping stone to the national team. A strong performance in the tournament can still make waves, especially as it marks the start of the domestic season. The BCCI's emphasis on red-ball cricket further underscores the importance of the Duleep Trophy.The tournament will witness the return of several national team regulars, including Shubman Gill, K.L. Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will also make his red-ball comeback after his horrific car accident in December 2022.The selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, and the new team management, headed by head coach Gautam Gambhir, will be closely monitoring the Duleep Trophy for potential additions to the national team bench strength. A key focus will be finding a backup opener to Yashasvi and Rohit Sharma. Sarfaraz Khan, among others, will aim to impress as middle-order reinforcements.With India scheduled to play 10 Tests in less than four months, the Duleep Trophy also provides an opportunity to identify fast-bowling reserves. Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, and Vidwath Kaverappa are among the promising pacers who will be vying for attention.The tournament will kick off with Team A taking on Team B at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while Team C faces Team D in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The matches will begin at 9.30 a.m. IST.

Wriddhiman Saha, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, is set to make a triumphant return to Bengal for the upcoming Indian domestic season. He will also grace the inaugural Bengal Pro T20 league, which commences on Tuesday at the iconic Eden Gardens.Saha, who has represented Bengal for nearly 15 years, had moved to Tripura ahead of the 2022-23 season as a player-cum-mentor. However, after two years, he has decided to return to his home state.The 39-year-old was not initially included in the draft list for the Bengal Pro T20 league. However, he was picked by the Rashmi Medinipur Wizards team as a replacement for the injured Abhimanyu Easwaran. The Wizards, led by Sudip Chatterjee, also boast former India U-19 fast bowler Ishan Porel in their ranks.A total of eight teams will participate in the Pro T20 league, with each team playing seven league-stage matches. The semi-finals and final will be held on June 28 at the Eden Gardens."We are delighted to welcome Wriddhiman back to Bengal. His presence in the Bengal Pro T20 League will undoubtedly add to the tournament's allure," said Snehasish Ganguly, president of the Cricket Association of Bengal.Saha has an impressive first-class record, having played 136 matches and scoring 7013 runs at an average of 41.99. He has also represented India in 40 Test matches, scoring 1353 runs at an average of 29.41.In the recently concluded IPL 2023 season, Saha played for the Gujarat Titans, who won the title in their inaugural season. However, he had a disappointing campaign, scoring only 136 runs in nine innings.Saha's return to Bengal is expected to bolster the team's chances in both the Pro T20 league and the Ranji Trophy. His experience and leadership will be invaluable to the young players in the squad.