The Duleep Trophy, one of India’s important domestic cricket tournaments, kicked off on September 5 with much anticipation. Many well-known cricketers are participating, hoping to catch the attention of selectors before the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. However, on the first day, several top players faced disappointing performances. Let’s take a look at five prominent names who struggled on the opening day.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Falls Early
Ruturaj Gaikwad considered a strong contender for India’s opening slot in Tests, had a rough start. Playing for India B against India A in Bengaluru, Gaikwad was dismissed for just 5 runs off 19 balls. Khalil Ahmed, the left-arm fast bowler, bowled an excellent delivery that led to Gaikwad getting caught by substitute fielder Shashwat Rawat. Gaikwad was expected to impress, but his early dismissal was a blow to India B’s start.
Rishabh Pant’s Struggles Continue
After recovering from a serious road accident, Rishabh Pant made a comeback to the T20 and ODI formats, but his wait for a Test return continues. Playing for India B, Pant could only manage 10 runs before playing an irresponsible shot. He got caught by Shubman Gill on Akashdeep’s delivery. Pant’s performance raised concerns, as fans and selectors were hoping for a strong showing from him in the red-ball format.
Sarfaraz Khan Disappoints
Sarfaraz Khan, another talented player for India B, failed to live up to expectations. Coming in at number four, Sarfaraz managed to score just 9 runs off 34 balls before being trapped LBW by fast bowler Avesh Khan. If Sarfaraz wants to secure a spot in the middle order of the Indian Test team, he will need to perform better in the next innings. However, his younger brother, Mushir Khan, gave the team hope by scoring 105 runs by the end of the day.
Shreyas Iyer Fails to Shine
Shreyas Iyer, who has been in the race for India’s captaincy and has been part of the national team before, also had a tough day. Leading India D in the Duleep Trophy, Iyer scored only 9 runs from 16 balls against India C. Iyer’s form has been a concern for quite some time, and his bat has remained quiet for a while now. His performance will be crucial as he looks to regain his spot in the Indian Test team.
Devdutt Padikkal’s Early Exit
Devdutt Padikkal, who had shown promise in his debut Test innings with a fifty, faced disappointment in the Duleep Trophy opener. He couldn’t even open his account and was dismissed for a duck after just four balls. Shreyas Iyer and Padikkal were both dismissed in the same over, with Padikkal getting caught by India B captain Ruturaj Gaikwad off a delivery by Akashdeep.
