The BCCI announced the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup 2024 match against reigning Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai with Ruturaj Gaikwad set to lead and Abhimanyu Eswaran as his deputy. But there were quite a few players, who had done well in the last domestic cycle and in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy that were missing from the squad.
Dhruv Jurel and Yash Dayal, both of whom are part of the Indian squad for the second Test, have also been added to the ROI squad with a rider that they could feature in the playing XI if they are not picked for the 2nd Test, starting September 27 in Kanpur. The Irani Cup is slated to begin on October 1.
Similar is the case of Sarfaraz Khan, who has been retained in the India squad, but could very well be released for the Mumbai team for the Irani Cup tie, if he is not part of the playing XI against Bangladesh.
Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Arshdeep Singh Set to be Part of Indian Squad for Bangladesh T20Is?
However, with the Bangladesh T20Is also slated to start from October 6 and the Indian team set to assemble by October 3 in Gwalior, few of the T20 hopefuls have been ignored for the Irani Cup, namely Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and a few others.
The squad selection for the Rest of India squad seems to be a clear sign on which players are likely to make India’s T20I squad. Suryakumar Yadav, who is currently at the NCA in rehab, has not been named in the Mumbai squad for the Irani Cup for obvious reasons, as being the Indian T20I captain, SKY will be part of the T20I series if fit.
Along similar lines, Sanju Samson could be picked for the T20I squad as Rishabh Pant’s backup or even as a first-choice keeper if BCCI opts to rest Pant after the two Test matches vs Bangladesh. Assam’s Parag, who had a blockbuster domestic season and had a fairly decent hit with the bat in Duleep Trophy seems set to be part of the Indian squad for the T20Is alongside Arshdeep Singh, who also is missing from the ROI squad. The same can be said about Harshit Rana who played two games for India D in the Duleep Trophy.
Off-spinning allrounder Washington Sundar, who featured in all three India B games in Duleep Trophy could also find a place in the T20is after being ignored for Irani Cup. Sundar picked up three wickets and had a half-century to his name in the Domestic season opener.
Shivam Dube, part of India’s victorious T20 World Cup-winning campaign also has not been picked in the Mumbai squad hinting at his inclusion in the Indian T20i squad.
Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad not in the Indian T20I Scheme of Things
Interestingly, Ishan Kishan’s name features in the Rest of India squad, indicating that he is still a fair distance away from making his Indian comeback while Ruturaj Gaikwad, another India hopeful finds himself leading the ROI side indicating that he is currently not in India’s scheme of things as far as T20Is are concerned
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