The Duleep Trophy, India’s premier first-class domestic tournament, which began its 2025 edition on August 28, has concluded its first round with a mix of remarkable performances and concerning setbacks.
Duleep Trophy, which returned to its traditional zonal format, has served as an important proving ground for both emerging talents and established Indian international players. The first round’s quarter-finals saw North Zone draw with East Zone and Central Zone draw with North East Zone, with North Zone and Central Zone advancing to the semi-finals on the basis of their first-innings leads.
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The Flops:
For fans of Indian cricket, the fitness and form of two of the country’s prominent bowlers have raised some concerns. Senior pacer Mohammed Shami, who has been a prime face for the Indian bowling lineup, seemed to have lost his rhythm. In a spell of 34 overs, he could only manage a single wicket, and he also picked up a minor injury during the play.
Having come into the tournament after recovering from a previous injury, this new setback has raised questions about his fitness and readiness for the upcoming international cricket.
Similarly, china-man bowler Kuldeep Yadav struggled to find his known form in Duleep Trophy. He bowled for 32 overs without taking a single wicket, an uncharacteristically quiet performance for a bowler of his caliber.
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The Hits:
While some of the established stars faltered, a number of younger players stepped up and made a significant impression. Harshit Rana, the active India A player, was a standout with his bowling. He took 2 wickets in 14 overs and appeared to be in excellent rhythm, consistently bowling in the right line and length. His performance was a testament to his good form.
Beyond him, Auqib Nabi and Ayush Badoni were the two other heroes of the round. Auqib Nabi bowled a very impressive spell of 5 wickets for just 28 runs in 10.1 overs, which included a hat-trick and a historic feat of taking four wickets in four balls. Meanwhile, Ayush Badoni showed his class with the bat, scoring an elegant double hundred that has surely caught the eye of the selectors.
What’s Next?
The performances of these players set the stage for the rest of the Duleep Trophy. While the struggles of Shami and Kuldeep will be a topic of discussion for selectors, the outstanding performances of emerging talents like Nabi and Badoni underscore the depth of Indian domestic cricket.
With the semi-finals featuring North Zone vs South Zone and Central Zone vs West Zone, the tournament promises more exciting cricket and more opportunities for players to make a case for themselves.