
South Zone selection shocker for Karnataka

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India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
From Ranji Star To Test Squad: N Jagadeesan Gets Maiden India Call-Up For Oval Clash
In a major development ahead of the fifth and final Test of the India vs England series at The Oval, Tamil Nadu's Narayan Jagadeesan has been drafted into the Indian squad as a replacement for Rishabh Pant, who sustained a foot fracture during the fourth Test at Old Trafford. This marks a maiden Test call-up for Jagadeesan, a consistent performer in the domestic circuit, who now stands on the cusp of a dream debut. Rishabh Pant suffered a painful blow to his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep on Day 1 in Manchester. Though he bravely returned to bat on Day 2, the injury ruled him out of wicketkeeping duties, and eventually the final Test. With Ishan Kishan unavailable due to an ankle issue and KS Bharat playing club cricket in England, the selectors turned to Jagadeesan—perhaps a surprise pick for some, but one thoroughly earned through performance. Jagadeesan's Stellar Domestic Run Jagadeesan's inclusion is not a leap of faith; it's a reward for relentless consistency in red-ball cricket. Over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, the 29-year-old has scored: 816 runs in 2023–24 at an average of 74.18 674 runs in 2024–25 at 56.16 These figures include two centuries and five half-centuries, reaffirming his ability to convert starts and anchor innings—qualities India will desperately need in a decider at The Oval. With an overall first-class average of 47.50, including 10 hundreds and 14 fifties across 52 matches, Jagadeesan is no flash in the pan. He holds a career-best score of 321 vs Chandigarh in January 2024, and has been part of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence player pool, despite missing the recent India A tour of England. A Versatile Wicketkeeper-Batter in Form While his primary role is that of a wicketkeeper, Jagadeesan's adaptability with the bat makes him a valuable asset. He can bat anywhere in the top or middle order and has shown temperament against both pace and spin. His recent form spans across formats. Earlier this month, he smashed 81 off 41 balls for Chepauk Super Gillies in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, demonstrating his sharp reflexes and form. This versatility could prove vital, especially if KL Rahul or Dhruv Jurel are called to play dual roles in the XI. Why Not KS Bharat? The decision to choose Jagadeesan over Bharat—who has experience keeping in English conditions—raises eyebrows, but the logic is clear. Bharat's recent returns have been modest, while Jagadeesan's run-hunger and reliability under pressure make him a more exciting bet. The selectors also appear to be aligning with head coach Gautam Gambhir's broader philosophy of rewarding domestic consistency and backing in-form players over reputations. A Debut Years in the Making Jagadeesan has long been on the fringe, waiting patiently for a crack at the highest level. Having debuted for Tamil Nadu in 2016, his journey has included stints in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, and a record-shattering 277 in List A cricket in 2022—the highest score in the format globally. That innings also made him the first man to score five consecutive centuries in List A cricket, etching his name alongside the likes of Sangakkara and Devdutt Padikkal.


Deccan Herald
15 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
South Zone selection shocker for Karnataka
Bengaluru: Ranji Trophy performers and future potentials were dealt a raw deal as quota demands appear to have prevailed while picking the South Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy in Puducherry on Saturday. .Karnataka pacer V Koushik, who claimed 23 wickets last Ranji Trophy season, and batter R Smaran, who hammered 516 runs in just seven games, received a royal snub by the South Zone selectors. While Smaran was put in as a stand-bye, Koushik wasn't included among them. .Snehal Kauthankar, the 29-year-old Goa batter, has been included in the 16-member squad. His 949 runs last Ranji season may justify his selection but when when consider that those runs came in the Plate group, including his unbeaten 202 against Nadu's 19-year-old batter Andre Siddarth, who amassed 600-plus runs in eight games, has also been kept as one of the six by virtue of being in the final of the Ranji Trophy, have managed to squeeze in four players but Basil NP's selection beggars belief. The 28-year-old pacer claimed 16 wickets in five games in the season gone by. Edhen Apple Tom's inclusion among stand-byes is equally surprising. The medium pacer, who has played three first-class matches over three years, appeared only in the final of Ranji Trophy last season and claimed four unclear if Koushik's decision to represent Goa from next season left him with no supporters in the selection meeting. .Hyderabad batter Tialk Varma didn't play a single Ranji Trophy match last season, and managed 148 runs, including a 111 n.o., in four Duleep Trophy innings last year. While his form in County championship for Hampshire, for whom he has scored 315 in five innings, should be good enough to pick him, handing him captaincy ahead of Sai Kishore, who took Tamil Nadu to semifinals, is a bit batter Devdutt Padikkal and pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar made the cut from Karnataka ranks in the 16-member squad. .Tanmay Agarwal, with 934 runs including four hundreds, for Hyderabad. .The competition will return to a Zonal format this time around with the BCCI deciding to scrap the India A, B, C and D format. .The quarterfinals of the tournament will see North Zone clash East Zone while Central Zone face North East Zone. South and West Zones have received direct entries to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the first and second quarterfinals, respectively. .South Zone squad: Tilak Varma (c), Mohammed Azharuddeen (vc), Tanmay Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohit Kale, Salman Nizar, Narayan Jagadeesan, T Vijay , R Sai Kishore, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vyshak Vijaykumar, MD Nidheesh, Ricky Bhui, Basil NP, Gurjapneet Singh, Snehal Mohit Redkar, R Smaran, Ankit Sharma, Edhen Apple Tom, Andre Siddarth, Shaikh Rasheed.


The Hindu
21 hours ago
- The Hindu
Tilak to lead South Zone in Duleep Trophy
Hyderabad's Tilak Varma will lead South Zone in the Duleep Trophy tournament that starts on August 28 at Bengaluru. The South Zone selectors picked a 16-member squad along with six standby players. Kerala, which finished runner-up in the Ranji Trophy, has the maximum representation with four players while Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad have three each. The tournament reverts to a zonal format this year with six teams participating. North will face East and North-East will take on Central in the two quarterfinal games. South and West Zone have secured a direct berth into the semifinals. The squad could have some changes if some of the South Zone players, who are part of the Indian Test squad, are made available. All matches will be played at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. The squad: Tilak Varma (Capt.), Mohd. Azharuddeen (vice capt.), Tanmay Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohit Kale, Salman Nizar, Narayan Jagadeesan, T. Vijay, R. Sai Kishore, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vyshak Vijaykumar, M.D. Nidheesh, Ricky Bhui, N.P., Gurjapneet Singh, Snehal Kauthankar. Standbys: Mohit Redkar, R. Smaran, Ankit Sharma, Edhen Apple Tom, Andre Siddarth, Shaikh Rasheed (Andhra).