Quite a lot of things transpired in Indian cricket on September 8. First, the star-studded Duleep Trophy match between India A and India B culminated, with the latter winning the inaugural encounter. Later in the day came the development by BCCI, who named the Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh. While most of the names were on expected lines, Yash Dayal was a surprise pick. In other news, East Delhi Riders won the maiden edition of DPL T20, beating South Delhi Superstarz in a nail-biting final.
No place for Shreyas Iyer!
In a battle of middle-order batters, Sarfaraz Khan has pipped Shreyas Iyer. Iyer continues to be overlooked in red-ball cricket. Despite his recent fifty in the Duleep Trophy, the ace batter has been snubbed from India’s 16-member squad for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. This follows his earlier snub at the BCCI Central Contract. Though he was selected for ODIs under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy, the coveted red-ball spot remains elusive.
No rest for Bumrah, Pant comeback oh yeah!
The Test squad sees return of two familiar faces! Rishabh Pant who has turned his life entirely in last two years. After a horrific accident, Pant has finally returned to the red-ball setup and is expected to once again showcase that why he is the best Test batter. Similarly, Jasprit Bumrah, who is the best bowler in the world currently, has also put his name and will not be rested. The Bangladesh Tests will prepare him well for the red-ball action against the likes of New Zealand and Australia.
Gambhir brings in LSG pacer to India camp?
Yudhvir Singh, a promising Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler, has been selected as a net bowler for the upcoming India-Bangladesh Test series. Known for his consistent pace, he was picked up by LSG in IPL 2023 and has played five matches for them. Under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir, who was previously LSG mentor, and Morne Morkel, he has shown immense potential despite limited first-class experience. Yudhvir Singh Charak has got pace in him, that will offer a great practice to the Indian batters.
East Delhi Riders – DPL T20 2024 champions!
After 33 high-octane matches, we finally got the Delhi Premier League (DPL) T20 league winners. East Delhi Riders clinched the inaugural edition title, beating the South Delhi Superstarz by 3 runs. Mayank Rawat shone with the 39-ball 78 and even took a wicket. Simarjeet Singh took three scalps to take his team home.
Moeen Ali retires!
England veteran Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket. His decision comes after he was excluded from the white-ball squads for the upcoming Australia series. Ali, who has retired from Test cricket twice before, has played in the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup. In an interview with Nasser Hussain, Ali explained that he was ready to let the team move forward, even though he still feels capable of playing. He emphasized that his retirement was not due to fitness concerns but rather a recognition that the team needed to evolve.
Goodbye, Paris Paralympics!
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony. India, with a record medal tally of 29, had a historic performance. Harvinder Singh and Preethi Pal were India’s flagbearers at the closing ceremony, where 169 delegations from 168 NPCs marched in the Stade de France. The ceremony featured diverse performances and celebrations, marking the end of a successful Paralympic Games.
