Cheteshwar Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav have been reportedly added to the West Zone squad for the forthcoming Duleep Trophy after not finding a place in India’s Test squad for the West Indies tour. The Duleep Trophy will kick off the 2023-24 domestic season on June 28 and will be played till July 16, followed by the Deodhar Trophy starting July 24. West Zone will play its first match in the Duleep Trophy from July 5.
Pujara had a forgettable outing in India’s recent ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval, scoring 14 and 27 runs in the two innings. Notably, he was included in the WTC final squad following his form for Sussex in the County Championship Divison Two but failed to replicate his form in the all-important Test.
According to the Times of India (TOI), Pujara and Suryakumar will get a place in the West Zone squad as replacements for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Notably, Jaiswal and Gaikwad have been added to India’s Test squad for the away series against the West Indies in July.
“The selectors and the coach (Rahul Dravid) wanted to try out youngsters like Jaiswal and Gaikwad, which is why Pujara has not been picked for this tour. If he scores runs in domestic cricket, the doors are not closed on him, and that has been communicated to him,” a source told TOI.
India to kickstart WTC 2023-25 cycle against West Indies
Rohit Sharma and Co. will travel to the West Indies in July to play two Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is. The first Test will be held at Windsor Park in Dominica from July 12 to 16, followed by the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad from July 20 to 24. The Trinidad Test will mark the 100th Test match played between India and the West Indies.
The two-match Test series against the West Indies will be team India’s first assignment in the World Test Championship Cycle 2023-25. Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has been reappointed the vice-captain of the Test squad, while Pujara, senior pacers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami (reportedly rested), who played in the WTC final, have not been included.