Come september

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Come September 5, a lot of India’s current Test team players and those on the verge of breaking into national reckoning, will be in action for the Duleep Trophy at Bengaluru and Anantapur to kick-start the 2024/25 domestic cricket season.

Of late, the Duleep Trophy has been facing challenges in terms of its significance because of a crowded calendar. The Duleep Trophy has served as a platform for the selectors to gauge if outstanding performers from the Ranji Trophy can excel in a higher standard of first-class cricket.

Apart from three years of not being held due to the Covid-19 pandemic, continuous changes to the Duleep Trophy format has affected its competitive nature. It has oscillated from a five-team zonal event to a three-team contest with teams named after RGB display format and even accommodating teams from Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and England.