In a surprising turn of events, the Rest of India team clinched the all-important toss and opted to bowl first in the fervently anticipated Irani Cup 2024 showdown against Mumbai in Lucknow on Tuesday. Led by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, the team made some unexpected and bold selections, notably excluding the star Indian pacer Khaleel Ahmed from the playing XI.
Cricket enthusiasts were left stunned when the Rest of India revealed their lineup. Both wicketkeeper-batters Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan made it to the playing eleven, whereas the seasoned left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed was left out. The decision comes as a huge surprise as Khaleel was recently excluded from India’s squad for the up-and-coming T20I series against Bangladesh, with the expectation he would play a pivotal role in the Irani Cup. Despite his impressive performances in recent national tournaments, he failed to make the cut for the Rest of India’s starting lineup.
Khaleel, 26, recently made a notable comeback to India’s T20I squad following a string of commanding performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic fixtures. In the recent Duleep Trophy, he was a linchpin for India A, capturing nine wickets in just two matches and steering his team to victory. These performances reinforced his reputation and seemed to secure his place in significant tournaments—a factor that makes his exclusion from the Irani Cup even more baffling.
In the meantime, Dhruv Jurel’s inclusion as the wicketkeeper for Rest of India raised eyebrows, particularly since he was released from India’s Test squad for the Bangladesh series to participate in this match. Gaikwad’s decision to hand the gloves to Jurel, while Ishan Kishan was slotted purely as a batting specialist, demonstrates a strategic maneuver aimed at balancing the team’s composition.
The batting lineup for Rest of India also saw the presence of the reliable and in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran, along with the promising talents of Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal.
. However, cricket followers were taken aback by the exclusion of Shashwat Rawat and Ricky Bhui, both of whom have showcased promising form in preceding matches.
In the bowling department, Gaikwad decided to structure his pace attack with Yassh Dayal, Mukesh Kumar, and Prasidh Krishna, excluding the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, which is seen as a gamble by many. The captain’s reliance on spinners Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain further highlights their strategy to counteract Mumbai’s eclectic batting lineup on a pitch where spin might play a crucial role.
The Rest of India playing XI was thus formalized as follows: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Ishan Kishan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Yash Dayal, Mukesh Kumar, and Prasidh Krishna.
Conversely, the Mumbai team, led under the experienced Ajinkya Rahane, featured a talented lineup. With Prithvi Shaw and Ayush Mhatre opening, followed by Hardik Tamore as the wicketkeeper, the batting order included heavyweights such as Rahane himself, Shreyas Iyer, and Sarfaraz Khan. The all-around capabilities of Shardul Thakur, complemented by the bowling strength of Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Mohammad Juned Khan, and Mohit Avasthi, assured a balanced and formidable squad.
Mumbai’s chosen XI consisted of: Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Hardik Tamore (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Mohammad Juned Khan, and Mohit Avasthi.
As the first ball was bowled, the strategic decision by Rest of India’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to field first and the overall team selection promised to make the Irani Cup 2024 an intriguing encounter. The cricket community eagerly Awaited to see if these bold tactical choices would pay off on the field. With high stakes and a display of young and experienced talents, the match was set to be a thrilling chapter in Indian domestic cricket.
