East Zone to face South Zone in Duleep Trophy final in Chennai as audition for India A squad
Quick Look
- The Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone in Chennai serves as an audition for India A's upcoming Test matches against Australia and New Zealand, with national selectors including Ajit Agarkar in attendance.
- South Zone will feature Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj, while KL Rahul opted out.
- Tilak Varma confirmed Padikkal will bat at No.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Duleep Trophy is a premier domestic first-class cricket competition in India, featuring zonal teams. East Zone last reached the final 14 years ago, also in Chennai, where they won the match. Red-ball cricket had not been played at MA Chidambaram Stadium for two years prior to this final.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
CHENNAI: There are five India 'A' 'Test' matches over the next two months against the Aussies at home and New Zealand away. The Duleep Trophy final here between East and South Zone here starting Sunday is an audition for that and the national selectors, including chairman Ajit Agarkar, will be in Chennai to check the performances of the aspirants. The BCCI also wanted to add a bit of star quotient to the marquee domestic match with KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj being asked to join the South sq-uad. While Padikkal and Siraj will play the game, Rahul made himself unavailable. Padikkal is coming on the back of a superb series in Sri Lanka and South captain
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Tilak Varma confirmed on Saturday after a practice session that the left-hander will bat at No. 3. "Padikkal will strengthen our batting line-up, especially with the kind of form we have seen from him in the last few games. He has done really well, so it will be a big boost for us," Tilak said. The final carries massive historic weight for East Zone, who reached the title match after a gap of 14 years. Coincidentally, their last final appearance was also in Chennai, a match they won. This fixture also marks red-ball cricket's return to MA Chidambaram Stadium after two years. "Yes, after 14 years. I was not part of each and every year, but I am part of East Zone this year, and we are in the finals...We played like an unit and cared for each other," East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan said. There's a lot of hype around 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck a crucial 92 in the semifinal against Central Zone.
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Strong performances in the Duleep Trophy final will lead to selection for the India A squad for the upcoming tours against Australia and New Zealand.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the performances in this final directly influence selection for the India A squad?
- How will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi handle the pressure of high expectations in the final?
- What is the exact composition of the India A squad for the upcoming tours?
