Ishan Kishan's resurgence in red-ball cricket has gained momentum with his inclusion in the Rest of India squad, which will contest the Irani Cup led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. This tournament is set to take place in Lucknow from October 1 to 5. Notably, Kishan marked his return to first-class cricket with a century for India C in the Duleep Trophy, following a break since July 2023, during which he lost his BCCI central contract.In the Rest of India squad, Kishan joins fellow wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who also stands as a backup, contingent on whether he is selected for the second Test against Bangladesh.
The squad also features notable talents such as left-arm fast bowler Yash Dayal and middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan. Both players have been selected under similar conditions related to the national team's composition.The absence of Mohammed Shami from the Rest of India squad is noteworthy. Having not participated in competitive cricket since the previous year's World Cup, Shami's return to the field has been further delayed due to ongoing rehabilitation after ankle surgery. He aims to regain match fitness in time for the Ranji Trophy, which commences on October 11.
The Rest of India squad remains competitive with four opening batsmen, including captain Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran, the second-highest run-scorer in the recent Duleep Trophy. Players such as Devdutt Padikkal and B Sai Sudharsan provide additional depth, having also played in middle-order positions. Performance during the Duleep Trophy has secured spots for Ricky Bhui and Shashwat Rawat, who both showcased impressive scoring averages and consistency.The pace attack for the Rest of India is robust, consisting of Prasidh Krishna, who recently returned from injury, alongside Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Khaleel Ahmed.
The spin department includes Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, and Rahul Chahar.Mumbai will field a full-strength squad led by Ajinkya Rahane, who has been in fine form after his stint in the County Championship. Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, and the returning Shardul Thakur add significant experience to the side. The match venue was shifted from Mumbai to Lucknow to mitigate the risk of weather disruptions related to the monsoon season.