BENGALURU: The Duleep Trophy appears to be a tournament nobody wants, an obligation thrust on players and squeezed into the domestic calendar. The relevance of the zonal red-ball competition has often been criticised, especially since IPL performances are sometimes granted long-format rewards too.
Yet, there is much to be gained for the six zonal teams from the season opener which starts on Wednesday. Over the next three weeks, the focus will be on individual performances and statements of intent — mostly from players who were either dropped or ignored for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies.
