Predicting the first playing 11 of Team C in Duleep Trophy 2024 ft. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Suryakumar Yadav
The Duleep Trophy, which will mark the beginning of India's 2024-25 domestic season, will commence on September 5. Four teams will participate in the opening rounds across two cities - Anantapur, in Andhra Pradesh, and Bengaluru.
This will be the first time in very long that so many Indian cricket team players will participate in the Duleep Trophy. It will be a good platform for them to push their case ahead of the long Test season. India have nine Test matches scheduled in the next few months and the players will look to get into the red-ball side with notable performances in the Duleep Trophy.
Like Team A and B, Team C also have some credible cricketers who can represent India at the highest level and they will leave no stone unturned to make their case.
On that note, let's take a look at the best playing XI of Team C for the first rounds of Duleep Trophy 2024.
Openers - Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan
Maharashtra-born Ruturaj Gaikwad has been on the radar of the selectors for a couple of years now. He has had a few opportunities here and there but has not really managed to cement his spot in the Indian side. With Rohit Sharma nearing his retirement, Gaikwad will look to push his selection with notable performances in the Duleep Trophy.
Sai Sudharsan has been one of the best performers on the domestic circuit in the last couple of years. Be it in the Indian Premier League (IPL), for India A or his state side Tamil Nadu, the southpaw has accumulated runs for fun.
Sudharsan will look to continue the good work in the upcoming games and be in the good books of the selectors ahead of the long red-ball season.
Middle-order - Rajat Patidar, Suryakumar Yadav, B Indrajith, and Abishek Porel
Rajat Patidar was named in the Test squad for the England series at home. However, the right-handed batter failed to make the opportunity count, scoring only 63 runs across six innings. Patidar will be desperate to score heavily in the Duleep Trophy and showcase to the selectors that he belongs at the highest level of cricket.
Suryakumar Yadav was recently appointed India's T20I skipper. While he is a regular feature in the Men in Blue's white-ball sides, Suryakumar will look to push his case to get into the Test team. He has featured in only one Test so far and managed to score just eight runs.
B Indrajith is one of the most consistent performers on the domestic circuit. He is the central figure in Tamil Nadu's middle-order and has saved the team on several occasions. He averages almost 55 in first-class cricket and can consider himself unlucky not to have played for India in red-ball cricket due to an abundance of options. Indrajith, who is already 30, will look to push his case with excellent performances in the upcoming Duleep Trophy.
A left-handed batter and a wicketkeeper, Abishek Porel has already shown that he is destined for greatness. The Bengal cricketer showcased his abilities in IPL 2024 for the Delhi Capitals and will look to take one step further in the upcoming tournament.
Bowlers - Manav Suthar, Mayank Markande, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Sandeep Warrier, and Umran Malik
Manav Suthar and Mayank Markande will look after the spin unit. Suthar, who bowls left-arm spin, has been an excellent performer on the domestic circuit. He has picked up 65 wickets in 15 games, including five four-wicket hauls and three five-wicket hauls.
Leg spinner Mayank Markande, on the other hand, is a known name on the Indian circuit having played regularly in the IPL. Despite his domestic success, Markande has gone down in the pecking order. Thus, he will look to excel and get back into the good books of the selectors.
Vyshak Vijaykumar, Sandeep Warrier, and Umran Malik will complete the playing XI of Team C. Vijaykumar has been one of the best pacers in the country in recent times and has also represented India A. Warrier and Umran are known to rack up good speeds and will share the new ball when Ruturaj Gaikwad and company take the field.