How Did These 5 High-Performing Batters Fail to Secure a Spot in the 2024 Duleep Trophy?

2024-08-30

The Duleep Trophy, a prestigious tournament in Indian domestic cricket, is often seen as a key platform for players to showcase their skills and secure a spot in the national team. However, this year, several high-performing batters found themselves unexpectedly absent from the squads. Here’s a closer look at why these five standout cricketers—Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Hanuma Vihari, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh—missed out on the 2024 Duleep Trophy selection.

Pradosh Ranjan Paul

Pradosh Ranjan Paul, the 23-year-old Tamil Nadu talent, has been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket. His first-class record speaks volumes: 1,434 runs in 19 games at an average of 57.36, including five centuries. He was the highest run-scorer for Tamil Nadu in the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy season and recently impressed during his India A debut with a solid 163 against South Africa A.

Despite these impressive credentials, Paul's omission from the Duleep Trophy squads could be attributed to the selectors’ preference for a mix of experienced players and those who have demonstrated consistent performances in the previous season’s Duleep Trophy. Given the competition for spots and the selectors' focus on balancing the squad, Paul’s exclusion might be seen as a matter of timing rather than a reflection of his potential.

Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma’s exclusion from the Duleep Trophy is notable given his impressive IPL performance with the SunRisers Hyderabad, where he scored 484 runs with a striking strike rate of 204.22. His maiden call-up for the Indian team and a century in his debut series against Zimbabwe further highlighted his potential.

However, Sharma’s first-class record, with 1,071 runs in 24 games at an average of 30.60, might not have been as compelling as his T20 performances. The selectors might have opted for players with more substantial red-ball credentials or those who performed consistently in domestic first-class cricket during the previous season.

Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson’s exclusion is perhaps the most discussed. Known for his explosive batting in the shorter formats, Samson has struggled to cement his place in the Test team. His recent performances in the T20I series against Sri Lanka did not contribute significantly, and with Rishabh Pant's injury, Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel have stepped up in the red-ball format.

Despite his 3,623 runs in 62 first-class games at an average of 38.54, Samson’s inconsistency in longer formats and the selectors’ focus on other emerging talents in domestic cricket might explain his omission. Samson needs to demonstrate stronger performances in the longer format to secure a spot in future squads.

Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh's exclusion is especially surprising given his impressive first-class record. With 3,173 runs in 47 matches at an average of 54.70, he has consistently proven himself as a reliable performer. However, his recent T20I series against Sri Lanka was disappointing, as he managed only two runs across two innings.

The selectors might have placed a premium on current form and recent performances in domestic competitions, potentially favoring players who have shown consistency and impact in the preceding season's domestic fixtures. Rinku will need to leverage the upcoming Ranji Trophy season to bolster his case for future selections.