The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the Rest of India (RoI) squad in the upcoming ZR Irani Cup 2024. The RoI team will face the reigning Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai, in a match to be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, from October 1 to 5, 2024.
Rest of India Squad
As per the official BCCI press release, the Rest of India squad includes:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
- Abhimanyu Easwaran (V-C)
- Sai Sudharsan
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Ishan Kishan (WK)
- Manav Suthar
- Saransh Jain
- Prasidh Krishna
- Mukesh Kumar
- Yash Dayal
- Ricky Bhui
- Shashwat Rawat
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Rahul Chahar
Dhruv Jurel, Yash Dayal, and Sarfaraz Khan’s Availability
The BCCI has noted that Dhruv Jurel and Yash Dayal will be part of the RoI squad, but their participation will depend on their availability. They are currently selected for India’s Test squad for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, which begins on September 27, 2024. If they are not picked in the final playing XI for the Test, they will be released to play in the Irani Cup.
Sarfaraz Khan, who is part of the Mumbai team, has also been retained in India’s Test squad. Like Jurel and Dayal, he will be released to represent Mumbai if he does not feature in the second Test against Bangladesh.
Mohammed Shami’s Absence
One noticeable absence from the RoI squad is experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami. Shami, who has not played competitive cricket since last year’s 50-over World Cup, was expected to participate in the Duleep Trophy to prove his fitness. However, it now appears his comeback will be further delayed, as he has not been included in the RoI squad for the Irani Cup.
Irani Cup 2024: The Big Clash
The ZR Irani Cup is a prestigious annual event in Indian domestic cricket. This year’s match will be a thrilling contest as Rest of India takes on Mumbai, the champions of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season. With top players from both teams vying for supremacy, cricket fans are eagerly awaiting this exciting showdown.
Mark your calendars for the match, which will take place from October 1 to 5, 2024, in Lucknow.
