MUMBAI: The Duleep Trophy semifinals kicked off at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Sunday, but the absence of 19-time champions West Zone was notable. West Zone's journey in the tournament came to an abrupt end after a 52-run defeat to North Zone in a quarterfinal match characterized by low scoring. North Zone managed scores of 251 and 222, while West Zone could only muster 187 and 234.
Following this early exit, Amit Dani, the coach of West Zone and a former first-class cricketer for Mumbai, has voiced his concerns regarding the tournament's knockout format. Dani believes that the Duleep Trophy, being the first major tournament of the season, should not feature knockout matches prior to the final. He expressed his thoughts in an interview with the Times of India, stating, “I suggested to the BCCI that it should seriously consider not having knockout matches until the final in the Duleep Trophy. Players are often a bit rusty at the start of the season. Even if North Zone had been knocked out after just one game, it wouldn’t have been fair on their players either.”
Dani's argument centers on the limitations imposed by the current format, which he feels restricts opportunities for both players and selectors. He highlighted the case of Tanush Kotian, a player the selectors were eager to evaluate, but who could only be seen in a single match due to the knockout structure. Dani noted, “The selectors wanted to watch Tanush Kotian, but they got to see him in only one match. It was a difficult wicket where the ball was gripping and turning, making batting tough. Players need more games. With the final scheduled only on September 6, there is room for one more league match.”
Despite the disappointment of the early exit, Dani found several positives from West Zone's campaign. He particularly praised Musheer Khan, who scored 96 runs in the fourth innings, the highest score of the match. “On that wicket, it was a top-quality knock. It wasn’t easy to bat there, but Musheer showed superb temperament and skill,” he remarked.
Additionally, Dani pointed out key moments in the match that influenced the outcome, such as Anshul Kamboj’s brisk 60 runs in North Zone’s first innings and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unfortunate run-out while batting on 66 during the chase. He emphasized the standout performances of Musheer, Kotian, and Tushar Deshpande, the latter of whom bowled with intensity throughout the match. Dani expressed hope that all three players would be considered for selection in the India A or the Rest of India squad for the upcoming Irani Cup.
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