Ignored for Duleep Trophy after a poor first-class season, the talented Yash Dhull got a huge boost on Tuesday after being named captain of the India A-squad for the Emerging Asia Cup One Day tournament in Sri Lanka from July 13 to 23. consisted mainly of U-23 players as a requirement for the Emerging tournaments and Dhull’s substitute was to be Punjab Ranji captain Abhishek Sharma. All selected players have represented their senior state team in one of three formats and a few like Prabhsimran Singh have already scored an IPL hundred.
The goalkeeping gloves are shared by Prabhsimran and Dhruv Jurel, who impressed as a finisher in the few opportunities he got as an Impact Player for Rajasthan Royals.
One of the good picks was Harshit Rana, the all-rounder from Delhi, whose speed impressed during the IPL. He recently scored his first first-class hundred on Duleep Trophy debut.
India’s 2022 U-19 World Cup winning captain, Dhull had a dismal second Ranji season in which he scored 270 points in 6 matches and before that another 191 points in seven Vijay Hazare matches.
However, it is clear that the senior selection committee, which not only checks the number of runs, but also looks at a player’s long-term talent and potential, did not want the 20-year-old Delhi Capitals batsman to simply fall off the radar of the national selection.
Ditto for Riyan Parag of Assam, who was flattered to deceive despite numerous chances handed to him by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, but selectors go purely on talent quotient.
Dhull’s deputy Abhishek is on good form for both Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad, while selectors have also awarded domestic artists such as Kerala’s Nikin Jose, Haryana’s Nishant Sindhu, Tamil Nadu’s Pradosh Ranjan Paul and the hottest talent of them all – B Sai Sudharsan.
As for fast bowlers, the focus was more on pace with bowlers who can hit over 135 clicks and touch 140 clicks.
Accordingly, Rana, Lucknow Super Giants pacer Yuvrajsinh Dodiya, CSK left arm of Jharkhand Akash Singh, fast but erratic Maharashtra man Rajvardhan Hangargekar made the cut.
Format of the tournament
India A is in Group B with Nepal, UAE A and Pakistan A, while Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A and Oman A form Group A.
Nepal will field its senior team for the tournament.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The first semifinal will be contested between Group A topper and 2nd place holder from Group B, while the second semifinal will be contested between Group B topper and 2nd place holder from Group A on July 21.
The final will take place on July 23.
India A squad:Sai Sudharsan, Abhishek Sharma (VC), Nikin Jose, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Yash Dhull (C), Riyan Parag, Nishant Sindhu, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Manav Suthar, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya, Harshit Rana, Akash Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rajvardhan Hangargekar Standby Player List: Harsh Dubey, Nehal Wadhera, Snell Patel, Mohit Redkar Coaching Staff: Sitanshu Kotak (Head Coach), Sairaj Bahutule (Bowling Coach), Munish Bali (Field Coach).
Luminaires
July 13: India A vs UAE A
July 15: India A v Pakistan A
July 18: India A v Nepal
July 21: two semifinals
July 23: Final
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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