Tournament returns to inter-zonal format but leaves selectors on the sidelines

The Duleep Trophy got underway at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Sunday, but the inter-zonal tournament opened with more questions than answers about its standing in Indian cricket. A few days before the first ball, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced that the final — scheduled for September 6-10 — would be shifted to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, citing the appetite of fans in the cricket-crazy city.

The reasoning was simple: at the CoE there are no spectators, whereas Chennai will turn up. But ask those who book their IPL tickets months in advance whether they would attend the Duleep final, and the predictable response is: “Will Shubman Gill play?” Gill, in this case, stands for all the stars of Indian cricket. With the Afghanistan T20 series starting on September 12, it remains to be seen whether those not involved in that assignment turn out at the MAC.

A stepping stone diminished by the IPL era

The primary purpose of the tournament is to pit the best Ranji Trophy performers against each other. Its relevance has diminished drastically since the inception of the IPL, yet it remains a stepping stone for many. What has thrown its sanctity into sharper relief this year is the selection process. For much of the last decade, the BCCI opted to run the tournament with national selectors picking India ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams. This year, the board has reverted to the inter-zonal format and kept the national selectors out of the equation entirely.

The consequences were visible immediately. Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan, who scored 828 runs in seven Ranji Trophy matches, was benched by the North Zone management on Sunday, with middle-order batter Yash Dhull preferred as an opener. The Central Zone squad features only one player from semifinalist Uttarakhand, despite Madhya Pradesh being the zone's only quarterfinal qualifier, while the South Zone team has also drawn scrutiny for a few debatable calls.

Former selector warns of ‘politics’ without national oversight

Former national selector Devang Gandhi believes a national selector must be involved if the tournament's integrity is to be preserved.

“When we were selectors from 2016-2021, BCCI had given us the responsibility of picking the Duleep Trophy to maintain continuity in a player’s development. If the opener with the highest runs in the country doesn’t get to play Duleep Trophy, it defeats the purpose of the tournament. The board must at least ensure one selector from each zone is present in planning their respective zonal teams. Otherwise, politics at the state association level can crop up. There’s no accountability if BCCI selectors are not used,” Gandhi told TOI.

He added: “Today we are seeing Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain as products of domestic cricket. If that structure is compromised, then it will be difficult to see such journeys.”

TOI understands the selection committee has been pushing for a greater role in assembling the Duleep squads. The Ajit Agarkar-led committee had been entrusted with the task for the previous two years before the board handed complete authority to the zonal state associations. For selectors, the Duleep Trophy is the pool from which India ‘A’ players are chosen — and with Australia ‘A’ touring in October, those in this year's squads will be angling to stake a claim.

Stars with little to prove and a T20-shaped selection lens

For established names, the tournament is a step down with little to prove — unless it serves as a fitness test, as is the case for Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan, both returning from injuries. More broadly, T20 form has increasingly become the benchmark for red-ball selection: Ajinkya Rahane forced his way into India's 2023 WTC Final squad on the back of a strong IPL, while Sai Sudharsan's Test call-up owes much to his consistency for Gujarat Titans.

The Sooryavanshi call that raised eyebrows

In the East Zone squad that faced NorthEast from Sunday, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named vice-captain ahead of Abhimanyu Easwaran. The numbers make for an awkward comparison: Easwaran averages 47.85 across 112 first-class games, while Sooryavanshi averages 17.25 from just eight matches. Gandhi, however, framed it as a matter of backing talent.

“Nothing against Abhimanyu, but we all know what Vaibhav brings to the table. He is one for the future with incredible talent and what’s the harm if he is put in the leadership group at a young age. The selectors will know how he reacts to it,” Gandhi said.

Whether such backing, and the wider state-association control of selection, ultimately serves the Duleep Trophy's credibility will be tested over the next fortnight in Chennai and Bengaluru alike.