Page 45 - The Indian EYE 090624

SPORTS SEPTEMBER 06, 2024 | The Indian Eye 45

CRICKET SEASON

After Duleep Trophy and Bangladesh,

Team India to face Kiwis and Aussies

Star India batters Rishabh Pant, Kishan, Shubman Gill and many more players are

set to feature in the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 season

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
ormer Indian cricketer Suresh
Raina said that Bangladesh can-
Fnot be taken lightly as the Asian
side has a fine bowling attack as India
prepares, adding that this series will be
a practice match ahead of the Border
Gavaskar Trophy.
Raina was speaking at a Legends
League Cricket (LLC) event in Delhi
on Thursday.
Raina said, “Now, a team for
Tests will be formed. Top players play-
ing Duleep Trophy is a nice initiative
by the BCCI. You get to know a lot of
things when you play red-ball cricket.”
“You cannot take Bangladesh
lightly as they have a fine spin bowl-
ing attack and some good players who
have done well for a long time. This
series will be a fine match practice for
the tour to Australia,” he added.
The Duleep Trophy, which marks Pant was the third-highest run-getter for India in their T20 World Cup triumph. He amassed 171 runs at an average of 24.42 in eight matches (ANI)
the beginning of red-ball cricket in the
domestic season, will feature top Indi-
an stars from the international circuit er-batter Rishabh Pant’s ICC T20 team ahead of the upcoming Indian now,” he said.
and emerging talents competing at the World Cup campaign, Raina lauded Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The LSG owner said he has been
highest level. The tournament is set to Pant for his “passion, hard work, men- LSG unveiled former India seamer meeting KL Rahul regularly.
begin on September 5, 2024, in Anan- tality and great determination”. Zaheer Khan as the mentor of the “I have been meeting KL on and
tapur, Andhra Pradesh and M Chin- “The way he practises, he is do- franchise for the upcoming 2025 sea- off regularly over the last three years.
naswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. ing very good wicket-keeping, he has son of the Indian Premier League on I am surprised this meeting is getting
Star India batters Rishabh Pant, batted very well and when you win the Wednesday. a lot of attention [in the media]. He is
Kishan, Shubman Gill and many more World Cup you know how much fun it Zaheer will fill in the shoes of integral [to LSG]. He has been here
players are set to feature in the Du- is,” added Raina. Gautam Gambhir, who left the role of since the inception. For me personally
leep Trophy 2024-25 season. Pant was the third-highest LSG’s mentor after IPL 2023. Gam- and for [my son] Shashwat [Goenka,
Also, India will be playing a two- run-getter for India in their T20 World bhir took up the role of team mentor who is also involved in running LSG],
match series against Bangladesh at Cup triumph. He amassed 171 runs at of Kolkata Knight Riders side that lift- he is like family,” Goenka added.
home from September 19 to October an average of 24.42 in eight matches ed the IPL 2024 title. Speaking to the In this year’s Indian Premier
1, in which Bangladesh spinners like and also contributed with his skills media in Kolkata alongside newly un- League (IPL) 2024, KL Rahul attract-
Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mehidy behind the stumps with 14 dismissals, veiled mentor Zaheer, Goenka said all ed some criticism for his strike rate
Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan etc could the most by a wicketkeeper in a sin- decisions are medium-term and need despite finishing among the top 10
feature. The squad for the Indian tour gle T20 WC edition. His influential to be thought of carefully. run-getters, with 520 runs in 14 match-
has not been announced yet. performances helped India end their “When you have a mega auction, es at an average of 37.14, with four
This will be followed by a three- 13-year-long ICC World Cup drought. you are bound to have a reset. But you fifties.
match test series against New Zea- LSG announce Zaheer Khan as try and maintain as much of the core During his playing career, Zaheer
land from October 16 to November mentor for next IPL season as possible. The coach Justin Langer represented Mumbai Indians, Roy-
5. These two series’ will pave India’s The Lucknow Super Giants (IPL) continues, [support staff] Lance Klus- al Challengers Bangalore and Delhi
preparation for the Border Gavaskar owner Sanjiv Goenka on Wednesday ener and Jonty Rhodes will also be Daredevils in the IPL. He played 100
Trophy later this year. opened up on the speculation of fran- there. So, it is a question of improving matches in the IPL and bagged 102
Speaking on Indian wicketkeep- chise skipper KL Rahul leaving the and going further from where you are wickets at an economy rate of 7.59.

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