While the Irani Trophy, set to begin on Sunday between Ranji Trophy champions Saurashtra and Rest of India, may seem overshadowed amidst the World Cup warm-up matches and the opening game, it's anything but insignificant. Prominent cricketers, including stalwarts like Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, are keen on delivering stellar performances to stay on the selectors' watchlist, especially with a series of crucial engagements lined up for the Indian team.
Road to redemption for Cheteshwar Pujara
After being left out of the West Indies tour in July, Pujara's Test trajectory appeared uncertain. While the 35-year-old showcased commendable performances for Sussex in the English county scene, he couldn't carry the same momentum into the World Test Championships Final against Australia.
As India gears up for its South African tour and a home series against England in the near horizon, Pujara undoubtedly wishes to secure his place. The stakes are high in the Irani Trophy, where he'll face the formidable RoI attack, led by pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Navdeep Saini, and backed by spinners B. Sai Sudarshan and Shams Mulani. The Saurashtra stalwart knows it's time to bring his A-game.
Unadkat keen on delivering strong performance to cement Test spot
Saurashtra's skipper, Jaydev Unadkat, is on a mission to make a significant impact in the upcoming matches to fortify his position in the Test team. The left-arm speedster, who earned a recall to the national side for the West Indies tour due to his stellar show in the 2022-23 domestic season, unfortunately, didn't clinch any wickets in 26 overs over three innings against the Caribbean team.
The pressure is on for Unadkat to deliver a high-wicket haul in the subsequent games, especially with emerging pacers like Kaverappa challenging the established ranks.
Vihari Eyes strong outing to reclaim spot in India's middle order
Hanuma Vihari, the leader of the reigning Irani Trophy champions Rest of India, is gearing up to make a mark with stellar performances, signaling his readiness for a national comeback. Although Vihari hasn't donned the Indian jersey since his single Test against England in Birmingham last year, he's maintained his momentum in domestic cricket. The 29-year-old played a pivotal role in guiding South Zone to victory in the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru this past July, delivering notable contributions of 63 and 42 runs in the final.
With the Irani Trophy on the horizon, Vihari is keen to capitalize on this form, eyeing the middle-order spot in the Indian team, currently held by Ajinkya Rahane. Given Rahane's lukewarm return to Test cricket against the West Indies, Vihari sees an opportunity to reclaim his position and solidify his presence in the squad.
Agarwal eager for a breakthrough despite stiff competition
Karnataka's lead opener Mayank Agarwal is on the hunt for a significant breakthrough. His recent performances in the domestic season have been noteworthy, with the right-handed batter standing out as the top scorer, amassing a whopping 990 runs in Ranji Trophy. Yet, breaking into the national lineup looks challenging, especially for Agarwal. The reason being that young talents like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have already carved a niche for themselves in the Indian cricket framework.
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