Irani Cup 2024: Ishan Kishan’s red-ball cricket resurgence continues, with his latest selection in the Rest of India (RoI) squad for the Irani Cup, set to take place in Lucknow from October 1 to 5. Kishan recently made a stunning return to first-class cricket after a long hiatus, scoring a century for India C in the Duleep Trophy—his first appearance since losing his BCCI central contract in July 2023.
Kishan is one of two wicketkeepers in the RoI squad, joined by Dhruv Jurel, who could also feature in India’s second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to run from September 27 to October 1 in Kanpur. The selection of both wicketkeepers underscores Kishan’s strong form and his growing role in the team.
RoI’s pace attack looks formidable with the inclusion of Prasidh Krishna, who recently returned from a quadriceps injury, alongside Mukesh Kumar and left-arm quicks Yash Dayal and Khaleel Ahmed. On the spin front, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, and Rahul Chahar add depth to the squad.
Notable batters like Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, and B Sai Sudharsan have also been included. Sudharsan and Padikkal, although recognized for their top-order roles, have recently adapted to middle-order positions. Both players have had impressive performances, with Easwaran emerging as the second-highest run-scorer in the Duleep Trophy.
The RoI squad also sees selections based on Duleep Trophy performances, with Andhra’s Ricky Bhui, who scored 359 runs at an average of 71.80, and Baroda’s Shashwat Rawat, fresh off scores of 124 and 53 for India A.
Meanwhile, Mumbai will be led by Ajinkya Rahane, who returns from a strong stint with Leicestershire in the County Championship. The Mumbai squad also features top talents such as Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, and Sarfaraz Khan. A fit-again Shardul Thakur will also make his return after foot surgery in June, hoping to regain form ahead of India’s tour of Australia. Thakur’s last appearance for India was in the South Africa series in late 2023.
Due to the monsoon season in Mumbai, the Irani Cup match was relocated from its original venue to avoid potential weather disruptions.
