Shreyas Iyer among 7 players eyeing Test return via Duleep Trophy

The highly anticipated Duleep Trophy is set to kick off on September 5, showcasing a plethora of talent from the Indian national team. While some seasoned veterans such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and R Ashwin have been granted exemptions from the tournament, fans can still expect to witness some thrilling performances from the rest of the talented players on display.

The tournament will be held for almost three weeks, with Bengaluru and Andhra Pradesh hosting the competition. The BCCI have named the squads as Team A, Team B, Team C and Team D. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will be captaining Team A, Team B will be led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad will skipper Team C, and Team D will be led by Shreyas Iyer.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad has never represented India in red-ball cricket, and he will be looking to use this competition as a platform for his selection in India's upcoming two-match Test series vs Bangladesh, scheduled for September.

Shreyas Iyer

The KKR captain last played in a Test match for India on 25 January 2024 against England. Despite leading KKR to the IPL 2024 title, he missed out on a spot in India's T20 World Cup squad. He made his return to the Team India setup during the ODI series vs Sri Lanka, but was out of form. He will be looking to find some form to facilitate his India comeback.

Mayank Agarwal

Mayank last played in a Test match for India on 12 March 2022 against Sri Lanka, and that was also his last international appearance. Once considered a mainstay in India's red-ball unit, he doesn't have a place anymore. He will need to produce something special to make a u-turn in his international career.

KS Bharat

Bharat made his Test debut for India in 2023, and last featured in a match on 25 January, 2024 against England. The wicketkeeper-batter has to compete with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant for that role, and will be looking to prove a point in the upcoming domestic tournament.

Rishabh Pant

After his freak car accident in 2022, Pant made a comeback in IPL 2024, and then was a key cog in India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign. He last played in a Test match for India in 2022, and will be looking to make his red-ball comeback in the upcoming Bangladesh series.

Suryakumar Yadav

Although he is India's current T20I captain, Suryakumar has only featured in one Test in his India career. But he has a good first-class record and a good performance could see him become a regular in Test cricket.

Ishan Kishan

Kishan has a lot to prove. He has been dropped from BCCI's list of central contracts. He has only appeared in two Test matches, both in 2023 vs West Indies. Meanwhile, he last represented India in November 2023 in a T20I match. He will be aiming for a shot at redemption.

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