Duleep Trophy final: An audition for India 'A' selection
The final carries massive historic weight for East Zone, who reached the title match after a gap of 14 years.
CHENNAI: The Duleep Trophy final between East and South Zone, set to commence on Sunday, serves as a crucial audition for the upcoming Test matches against Australia and New Zealand. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited notable players like KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and Mohammed Siraj to bolster the South Zone squad, with Rahul being the only one who declined the invitation.
Padikkal, who has been in excellent form following a successful series in Sri Lanka, is earmarked to bat at No. 3, providing a significant boost to the South Zone's batting lineup. Tilak Varma, the South Zone captain, expressed his satisfaction with Padikkal's performance, stating that it will be a big morale booster for the team.
The Duleep Trophy final holds immense historical significance for the East Zone, as they have not reached the title match for 14 years. Their last appearance in a final was also in Chennai, where they emerged victorious. Additionally, this match marks the return of red-ball cricket to the MA Chidambaram Stadium after a two-year hiatus.
East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan highlighted the team's unity and camaraderie, acknowledging the hype surrounding 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored a crucial 92 in the semifinal against the Central Zone.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
