The legendary Buchi Babu Tournament is once again the hot topic, and for good reason. This tournament has significantly increased the value of cricket in Tamil Nadu. Established in 1930 by Mothavarapu Venkata Mahipathi Naidu, popularly known as Buchi Babu Naidu, it was his vision to foster a strong cricket culture in the Madras Presidency and to showcase local talent against the Englishmen. Although his untimely demise occurred before the first edition, the tournament was named in his honor.
The tournament is set to begin on August 15, and we will see the finals on September 8, with subsequent rounds scheduled for August 22 and August 27. The semifinals will take place on September 2. The event features four groups (A, B, C, and D) with a total of 12 teams. The tournament is once again under a prominent banner, and several top international players are set to participate. Stay tuned to discover which three big internationals will be competing in the Buchi Babu Tournament.
International players who will play in Buchi Babu Tournament
| Player | State |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Mumbai |
| Ishan Kishan | Jharkhand |
| Shreyas Iyer | Mumbai |
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav, who is all set to represent Mumbai in the Buchi Babu Tournament, is eyeing a Test comeback. India is set to play several Test matches, starting with the Bangladesh Test, which begins on September 19. Also, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is also on the horizon. There is no better occasion for him to showcase his skills in this long-format cricket tournament.
Yadav, who has represented Mumbai in domestic cricket, previously captained the team during the 2014–15 Ranji Trophy season and was reappointed as captain for the 2019-20 season. This time, he will play under the captaincy of Sarfaraz Khan. Known as one of the best batters in the format, Yadav also prioritizes domestic cricket. It will be interesting to see how he fares this time.
Ishan Kishan
Another big name in the Buchi Babu Tournament is Ishan Kishan, who not only plays for Jharkhand but will also captain the team. Currently out of the Indian cricket team’s contention and without a central contract, Kishan is eager to make a comeback to the India squad. This domestic tournament could be a significant step for him. It is noteworthy that he was initially not part of the Jharkhand squad for this red-ball competition but was later drafted in. Kishan made headlines when he returned from South Africa just before the Test series against the Proteas, citing mental fatigue.
He also skipped the Ranji Trophy after that and was seen training with all-rounder Hardik Pandya in Baroda. The 26-year-old has played 50 first-class matches so far, scoring 2,063 runs at an average of 39.26, with six centuries and 17 half-centuries. It will be interesting to see if he can add a few more three-digit scores to his record.
Shreyas Iyer
Another new name poised to make a big impact in the tournament is Shreyas Iyer, who, like others, is currently out of a central contract after being left out by the BCCI. With many Test matches on the horizon, there is no doubt that he is also aiming for a permanent spot. Iyer, who made an impressive start to his Test career by scoring a century on debut against New Zealand, has struggled to maintain his form in recent tours.
In 14 Tests, he has scored 811 runs at an average of 38.86, including one century and five half-centuries. Now, with the Mumbai Cricket Association confirming his participation in this Invitational tournament organized by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, it will surely provide him with an opportunity to boost his Test career.
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