Anantapur: The first round of the Duleep Trophy 2024 has been exhilarating, with India A and India B securing victories. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, including KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal Sharma. As the competition heats up, fans are wondering if these players will make it to the final. Meanwhile, the second round of the Duleep Trophy begins on Thursday, featuring matches between India A and India D, and India B and India C, all taking place at the Rural Development Trust Stadium in Anantapur.
Rinku Singh, who was absent in the first round, is expected to make an appearance in the second round. His performance is crucial, as a standout showing could enhance his chances of being selected for upcoming Test matches. Abhimanyu Easwaran, the captain of India B, will be leading his team in this round. Singh, aiming to secure a place in the longer format for India, faces a significant opportunity to impress.
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Washington Sundar, who played in the first round, struggled to make an impact. Despite the spinner-friendly conditions in Bangalore, Sundar managed only two wickets and scored just 0 and 9 runs. With Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel ahead in the all-rounder role, Sundar needs to perform exceptionally to avoid falling further behind.
Shreyas Iyer, captain of India D, had a mixed performance with scores of 9 and 54 off 44 balls. His next two matches are critical for him to regain his central contract and secure a spot in the national team. India D will face India A on Thursday. Sreekar Bharat and Sanju Samson are also in contention, with only one expected to make it to the final.
Sarfaraz Khan, initially selected for the first Test against Bangladesh, was sent back by the BCCI to participate in the Duleep Trophy’s second round. Playing for India B, Sarfaraz will face India C on Thursday. After scoring 46 runs in the second innings of the first Test, Sarfaraz is in form and may get a chance if KL Rahul does not perform well against Bangladesh.
