Duleep Trophy 2016: Top 5 performers from the tournament

Ravindra Jadeja's 10-wicket haul in the match and Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten 256 was enough for India Blue to thrash India Red by 355 runs and claim the Duleep Trophy 2016. By winning two of their three games and losing the other to rain, there can be no doubt that India Blue were deserving champions.

The side were ably led by Indian opener Gautam Gambhir and impressed with both bat and ball. But who were the most impressive performers in the tournament? Does the captain make the cut? And does anyone from India Green feature?

Here are the top 5 performers from the Duleep Trophy 2016:

Sheldon Jackson

At the age of 29, cricketers could be forgiven for thinking that their debut for the national side may never come calling but as many players have proven before consistent performances don't go unnoticed. And that is precisely why Sheldon Jackson shouldn't lose hope.

Coming into the tournament, he had already proven himself to be a consistent performer in the domestic circuit, with over 2,500 runs at an average in excess of 50. And the Duleep Trophy did nothing to harm his credentials and present a case for an Indian call-up. After all, wicketkeepers who average in excess of 50 in the longest format of the game aren't readily available.

Despite batting a lot lower than he usually does for his state, Jackson still showcased his class as he registered two centuries, a fifty and an unbeaten 48 in his five innings. Not only did he score consistently but also showed that he is more than capable of batting with the tail and scoring runs as well. Another impressive season might just force the selectors to re-think their options.

Shreyas Gopal

India Green's failure to qualify for the final meant that Shreyas Gopal only had two games to showcase his talents in the Duleep Trophy. And like any good player should, he made the most of the opportunity that was presented to him. That is precisely why he takes his place ahead of Gautam Gambhir in this list.

Although Gambhir scored a fifty in four of his five innings, he had the advantage of batting on tracks that were good for batting and his failure to convert all those starts into hundreds might have cost them the chance to play for India again with a home summer coming up. But Gopal certainly made the most of his two matches but picking up 14 wickets.

While he wasn't as impressive with the bat, he was undoubtedly the most consistent bowler with two five-wickets in two matches. The leg spinner is still only 23 and if he keeps up his good work, he will break into the Indian side before too long.

Kuldeep Yadav

Before the start of the Duleep Trophy, Kuldeep Yadav had just played 10 first-class matches but at the conclusion of the tournament, although he has only played 13, he finished it with 17 wickets and enhanced his reputation in the longest format of the game.

In the tournament, not only did he register his career-best performance for India Red with the ball but also proved himself to be a more than handy batsman with the willow as he got only second first-class fifty and his career-best score with the bat as well. Given the need for multi-dimensional cricketers, his performances won't go unnoticed.

Another thing that the 21-year-old showcased effectively is his ability to bowl the top spinner and googly consistently. As a chinaman, he provides the team with an alternative and it won't be a surprise if he gets a game as India kick off their home season should continue his impressive performance with the ball in the Ranji Trophy.

Cheteshwar Pujara

When your place in the national side is in jeopardy and you need to step up, that is when the difference between a good player and an average one becomes apparent. And when you add the fact that Cheteshwar Pujara was playing with a pink ball for the first time, his scores make for even more impressive reading.

In the three innings that he batted in this tournament for India Blue, Pujara scored a century in his first and an unbeaten double century in his final innings. His first tryst with the pink ball was a success as he scored 166 and helped his team rack up 707 in their first innings.

In the final, his double century not only helped set up the platform for his side but also ensured he equalled Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar's record of 10 first-class double centuries and became the youngest Indian player to achieve that feat as well. All of that has not only ensured his place in the Indian XI for the first Test but also ensures he goes into it in great form.

Mayank Agarwal

Ever since it became scored a match-winning 160 for India U-19 in a one-dayer against Australia U-19 in 2009, it was clear that Mayank Agarwal was one to watch out for. Unfortunately for him, while the talent has always been there, he hasn't been able to add a touch of consistency to that.

And that is precisely the reason why, despite showing plenty of promise from a young age, the dashing opener hasn't been able to play for India. But a consistent Duleep Trophy 2016 where he scored at least a fifty in each of his five innings in the tournament is a step in the right direction.

It all began with a 92 in a rain-affected match against India Red. That was followed up with 161 and 58 in the clash against India Green in the game that sealed their progress to the final. In the final, when his side needed a good start, he provided it on both occasions as he scored a fifty in both innings and help his side claim the trophy. He will be hoping to continue his good form in the upcoming Ranji season and hoping to make his Indian debut sooner rather than later.