Ishan Kishan, a key player in the India D squad for the Duleep Trophy, may miss the first match due to a hamstring injury. This news has surprised many, as Kishan was expected to be a crucial part of the team. The injury reportedly occurred while he was playing for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu tournament recently. Although the team management and selectors have not confirmed his replacement, they are monitoring the situation closely.
India D’s Wicket Keeping Concern
Ishan Kishan was an important member of the India D team, which is led by Shreyas Iyer. With Kishan’s absence, the only wicketkeeping option left for the team is KS Bharat. India D is set to play their first match against India C, captained by Rituraj Gaikwad. The team was hoping Kishan would join them before the match, but as of a day before the game, he had not yet reported. The selectors may announce a replacement depending on how serious Kishan’s injury is, but no official decision had been made by Wednesday afternoon.
Prasidh Krishna Also Sidelined
In addition to Kishan, India A’s fast bowler Prasidh Krishna will also miss the Duleep Trophy due to a quadriceps injury. Prasidh has been undergoing rehab for four months and has recently started bowling at full speed again. However, the coaches at the National Cricket Academy are taking a cautious approach due to Prasidh’s injury history over the past two seasons. He last played for India during their tour of South Africa in December-January. It is believed that Prasidh is close to full fitness and could participate in the later stages of the Ranji Trophy season.
Several Top Players Missing from Duleep Trophy
The absence of Ishan Kishan and Prasidh Krishna adds to the list of Indian players who will not be participating in the Duleep Trophy this year. Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav had to withdraw from the tournament due to a hand injury he sustained during the Buchi Babu tournament in Coimbatore. Additionally, fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik are also out of the competition due to dengue fever. Ravindra Jadeja, another prominent player, is also no longer part of the India B team.
Navdeep Saini was named as the replacement for Mohammed Siraj in India B, while Puducherry pacer Gaurav Yadav has been called up to replace Umran Malik for India C. The first round of the Duleep Trophy is scheduled to take place in Anantapur and Bengaluru from September 5. This match will feature top Indian Test players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav. These players will later join the Indian team for the Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19 in Chennai. The Indian squad will gather in Chennai on September 12 for a short training camp ahead of the two-Test series.
