This year's Duleep Trophy 2024 has a new structure as it prepares for India's domestic cricket season, which runs from September 5 to September 22. India A, India B, India C, and India D are the four teams who will play in a round-robin competition without elimination rounds.
The departure of certain experienced cricketers from the Duleep Trophy squads may mean the end of their Test careers, despite the fact that many emerging stars are keen to catch the selectors' eye. These five Indian players might not be selected for the national Test team in the future.
1. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane, appears to be headed in the same direction. Rahane has not been a member of the Indian team since his last appearance in the Test series against the West Indies in 2023. Rahane led Mumbai to a Ranji Trophy victory and played in the 2024 Indian Premier League, but his exclusion from the Duleep Trophy squads is a clear sign that his Test career may be finished. Rahane's chances of making a return are diminishing at 36 as India looks to younger players for the middle order.
2. Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara has been a consistent player in India's Test batting order for more than ten years, but it looks like his time playing for the national team is running out. The 36-year-old hasn't been selected for the Indian team since his previous appearance in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final.
Pujara scored a lot of runs for Sussex in the County Championship and Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, but his exclusion from the Duleep Trophy selections indicates the selectors are looking past him. Pujara's future in India's Test team appears to be waning as a lot of youthful middle-order talent is waiting in the wings.
3. Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari, who is well-known for his tenacious 2021 Gabba innings, has had a patchy Test career due to inconsistent play and little opportunities. The 30-year-old hasn't been a member of the Test team since his final India match in England in 2022.
Even though Vihari is still a fixture for Andhra in the state of Tamil Nadu, his play has not been strong enough to warrant a call-up to the national team. It appears that the selectors are searching other for middle-order alternatives given his absence from the Duleep Trophy selections.
4. Jaydev Unadkat
Over his Test career, Jaydev Unadkat has seen a lot of lost opportunities and long waits. The left-arm pacer, who made his Test debut in 2010, had to wait a full year to participate in another match. He eventually played three more matches in 2022 before being dropped once more.
Unadkat has shown consistency in domestic cricket for Saurashtra, but his removal from the Duleep Trophy selections implies that the selectors have moved on. His odds of being called back for a Test seem low at 32.
5. Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav, a fast bowler who last represented India in the World T20 Championship in 2023, is out of favour in a competition full of promising young pacers. Umesh, 36, made a comeback to domestic cricket with Vidarbha, although he is not included among the teams for the Duleep Trophy. It doesn't appear probable that Umesh will make his way back into the national team, since there are a number of talented fast bowlers coming through the ranks.
