The 2016 Duleep Trophy will go down in history as one of the most iconic to have ever been played. There were plenty of experiments conducted this year, they did away with the ‘zones’ for the teams, and instead there were three teams – India Blue, Red, and Green that contested for the title.
Apart from this, for the first time in first-class cricket history in India, matches were played under lights and the pink ball was used. The setting for all the games was the Greater Noida Sports Complex and there was a decent turnout for all of the matches.
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Fans got to witness many of their stars put in exemplary performances as players fought hard to try and impress the selectors ahead of the long home Test season.
India Blue, captained by Gautam Gambhir lined up against India Red, captained by Yuvraj Singh in the final and Gambhir’s boys turned out victorious.
Here, we pick the team of the tournament:
1) Abhinav Mukund – India Red
Abhinav Mukund was in imperious form in the first game of the tournament against India Green, where he recorded scores of 77 and 169 to help his team record a massive 219 run victory. His performances were of paramount importance as it gave his team an almost unassailable lead and ensured an easy passage to the final.
He would not have a chance to impress in the second game with rain playing spoilsport and was retired hurt in the final innings of the final game, which proved to be a dampner for him. But he did enough overall to merit a spot at the top of the order.
The stylish left-hander from Chennai is only 26 years old and is certainly knocking on the door of the selectors after this performance.
2) Mayank Agarwal – India Blue
Mayank Agarwal could have easily been the highest run-getter in this Duleep Trophy if it were not for Cheteshwar Pujara’s unreal performances. He recorded 1 hundred and 4 fifties in 5 innings, displaying his consistency through the course of the tournament.
He opened the innings with Gautam Gambhir and the duo proved to be almost impossible to dislodge. His highlight of the tournament came in the penultimate game, where he scored a brisk 169 off 218 balls to help his team post 707 on the board.
The 25-year-old from Bangalore looks set to make inroads into the Indian team soon if he continues in this rich vein of form.
3) Gautam Gambhir – India Blue
Gautam Gambhir did what Gautam Gambhir does. He looked at ease at the top of the order for the India Blue team, scoring runs aplently. He would not get a chance to raise his bat for a century, but his 4 fifties and 356 runs were crucial for his team.
He also led his team very well, his captaincy often goes unnoticed but he is a natural leader who inspires his troops very well. The opener scored a very impressive 90 in the final that helped his team post a commanding total.
The selectors continue to ignore the Delhi lad and he might be consigned to playing first-class cricket.
4) Cheteshwar Pujara – India Blue
Cheteshwar Pujara put any doubts of his role in the Test team beyond doubt with a simply exemplary Duleep Trophy. He showcased why he is one of India’s most effective run-getters with 453 runs from just 3 innings for his team.
He scored a massive 166 against the India Red in the second game for India blue, but his knock of 256 in the crunch final stole the show. Pujara displayed his ability to play the long innings better than anyone in India.
His performances leave him in good stead going into the long Test season.
5) Dinesh Karthik – India Blue
Dinesh Karthik put in a string of impressive performances in the middle order for the India Blue. His work behind the stumps was exemplary as usual and he impressed throughout. He scored 211 runs in the 3 matches that he played and stitched the innings together well.
The highlight of the tournament for his was a quickfire 50 in the final. He took 4 catches and managed a stumping as well.
He is another who looks to be consigned to first-class cricket in the future.
6) Gurkeerat Singh Mann – India Red
Gurkeerat Singh Mann is emerging as a genuine all-rounder for India. In the Duleep trophy, he impressed with the bat but not the ball. His performances with the bat were good enough to merit a spot in the squad.
He scored 178 runs from a total of 4 innings for his side and scored a crucial half-century in the final while coming into bat with his team in a spot of bother.
He will contest tooth and nail to make it to the India squad.
7) Sheldon Jackson – India Blue
Sheldon Jackson has spent his time scoring plenty of runs in first-class cricket and the Duleep Trophy was to be no different. While he did not don the gloves for the India Blue, his ability to do that too makes him a very interesting prospect.
He scored a total of 368 runs with 2 hundreds. The only other play to manage 2 tons in the Duleep Trophy was Cheteshwar Pujara. His 134 in the final perfectly complimented Pujara to put his team in a very strong position.
At 29, he is running out of time but a few more performances like this will do no harm.
8) Ravindra Jadeja – India Blue
Ravindra Jadeja only played the final, but he made a telling contribution. His 10 wickets proved crucial and it was the difference between the two sides in the final. He remains to be a genuine match-winner and this performance comes at just the right time for him.
A ten-for in the final of the Duleep Trophy would always remain one of his best performances ever. He ended with figures of 10/171 and nearly managed a 50 in the match as well.
He has dispelled any doubts over his selection ahead of the first Test.
9) Kuldeep Yadav – India Red
The young left-arm chinaman bowler ended the Duleep Trophy as the highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets. He was impressive throughout and proved to be a constant threat to the batsmen in the 3 matches he played.
His best performance came in the first match, where his 6 wickets helped his team record a massive victory. In the final, he couldn’t cash in during the first innings and only managed 1 wicket. He recovered with 3 in the second innings.
He’s only 21 and has a very bright future ahead of him.
10) Shreyas Gopal – India Green
Shreyas Gopal is a leggie who is earning plenty of plaudits for his mastery of the leg spin. He’s chosen the best time possible to shoot into the limelight with Anil Kumble as coach. He was one of the positives in an otherwise forgettable tournament for the India Green.
In the 2 matches he played, he took 14 wickets with two five-fors. When the India Blue put on 707 against his team, he remained resolute and picked up 5 wickets.
He is in line for a call-up to the India squad.
11) Nathu Singh – India Red
Nathu Singh impressed everyone with his good fast bowling in the Duleep Trophy. He is the only pacer to make it to the list, in a tournament dominated by spinners. Pankaj Singh is another pacer who impressed but Nathu edges him out in this list.
He took 8 wickets in 3 matches for the India Red, with his best performance coming against the India Green in the first match, where he picked up 6 wickets for 53 in a fiery spell.
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