NEW DELHI: The upcoming Duleep Trophy semifinals between the West Zone and Central Zone will revolve around the theme of redemption as prominent cricketers like Cheteshwar Pujara and Prithvi Shaw take to the field in this crucial encounter, commencing on Wednesday.
The West Zone has bolstered their lineup with the inclusion of Pujara, Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, and Sarfaraz Khan, all of whom are in dire need of a career resurgence.
Pujara, a seasoned campaigner with 103 Test matches and over 7000 runs to his credit, has been a symbol of resilience over the years. However, he currently finds himself out of the reckoning for the Indian team. Following a relatively modest performance in the World Test Championship final against Australia last month, he was excluded from India’s squad for the West Indies tour. Consequently, Pujara will be eager to make a strong statement of intent during the Duleep Trophy.
Recalling the enigmatic tweet he shared showcasing his batting skills after being left out of the Test squad, it becomes crucial for him to accumulate runs since India’s next Test series will not take place until later this year, following their assignment in the West Indies.
Shaw and Sarfaraz, too, find themselves on the path to redemption, albeit with subtle underlying factors beyond cricket. Shaw is widely recognized as a prodigious talent, having achieved the rare feat of scoring centuries on debut in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Test cricket—a remarkable accomplishment.
After leading India to victory in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2018, the 23-year-old cricketer has had a limited international career, featuring in only five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I.
Despite showcasing his batting prowess with a remarkable 379 off 383 balls against Assam in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year, Shaw has slipped down the pecking order in Indian cricket. His off-field indiscipline has frequently drawn scrutiny.
Shaw has recently secured a contract with Northamptonshire and aims to catch the attention of selectors through impressive performances for his new County team and in the Duleep Trophy.
Sarfaraz finds himself in a similar situation. He boasts impressive domestic numbers, having scored over 900 runs in consecutive seasons (2020-21, 2021-22). With a First-Class batting average slightly over 79, he is second only to Sir Don Bradman.
Even in the previous domestic season, Sarfaraz averaged a remarkable 92.66. His omission from the Indian squad for the West Indies tour sparked significant debate, but it appears that his off-field behavior and below-par fitness level have temporarily closed the door on his international prospects.
Perhaps a noteworthy performance in the upcoming matches will help him finally break into the Indian team.
On the other hand, Suryakumar is an integral part of India’s limited-overs squads. However, he has struggled to replicate the same level of success in the longer format of the game.
Since making his Test debut against Australia in Nagpur in February, his Test career has failed to progress beyond its initial stage. A substantial performance in the Duleep Trophy would enhance his aspirations of establishing himself as an all-format batsman.
In the bigger picture, while these players may harbor personal frustrations over their non-selection, their ability to align their individual goals with the team’s objectives could make the next four days of cricket truly captivating.
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The West Zone has bolstered their lineup with the inclusion of Pujara, Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, and Sarfaraz Khan, all of whom are in dire need of a career resurgence.
Pujara, a seasoned campaigner with 103 Test matches and over 7000 runs to his credit, has been a symbol of resilience over the years. However, he currently finds himself out of the reckoning for the Indian team. Following a relatively modest performance in the World Test Championship final against Australia last month, he was excluded from India’s squad for the West Indies tour. Consequently, Pujara will be eager to make a strong statement of intent during the Duleep Trophy.
Recalling the enigmatic tweet he shared showcasing his batting skills after being left out of the Test squad, it becomes crucial for him to accumulate runs since India’s next Test series will not take place until later this year, following their assignment in the West Indies.
Shaw and Sarfaraz, too, find themselves on the path to redemption, albeit with subtle underlying factors beyond cricket. Shaw is widely recognized as a prodigious talent, having achieved the rare feat of scoring centuries on debut in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Test cricket—a remarkable accomplishment.
After leading India to victory in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2018, the 23-year-old cricketer has had a limited international career, featuring in only five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I.
Despite showcasing his batting prowess with a remarkable 379 off 383 balls against Assam in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year, Shaw has slipped down the pecking order in Indian cricket. His off-field indiscipline has frequently drawn scrutiny.
Shaw has recently secured a contract with Northamptonshire and aims to catch the attention of selectors through impressive performances for his new County team and in the Duleep Trophy.
Sarfaraz finds himself in a similar situation. He boasts impressive domestic numbers, having scored over 900 runs in consecutive seasons (2020-21, 2021-22). With a First-Class batting average slightly over 79, he is second only to Sir Don Bradman.
Even in the previous domestic season, Sarfaraz averaged a remarkable 92.66. His omission from the Indian squad for the West Indies tour sparked significant debate, but it appears that his off-field behavior and below-par fitness level have temporarily closed the door on his international prospects.
Perhaps a noteworthy performance in the upcoming matches will help him finally break into the Indian team.
On the other hand, Suryakumar is an integral part of India’s limited-overs squads. However, he has struggled to replicate the same level of success in the longer format of the game.
Since making his Test debut against Australia in Nagpur in February, his Test career has failed to progress beyond its initial stage. A substantial performance in the Duleep Trophy would enhance his aspirations of establishing himself as an all-format batsman.
In the bigger picture, while these players may harbor personal frustrations over their non-selection, their ability to align their individual goals with the team’s objectives could make the next four days of cricket truly captivating.
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