The players omitted include prominent names like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, and Prasidh Krishna, all of whom are part of India’s central contract list. This decision comes despite a clear directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) urging the inclusion of centrally contracted players in domestic tournaments.

South Zone selectors, however, have justified their selections, focusing on rewarding exceptional performances in domestic cricket. They argue that players from Kerala and other smaller states have earned their spot in the squad due to consistent performances in recent domestic tournaments. According to South Zone officials, this move will provide more opportunities to emerging talents who might otherwise be overshadowed by contracted players.

The BCCI, while expressing disappointment over the omission, has emphasized the importance of including all available players to maintain the prestige of the Duleep Trophy. This decision has sparked a debate about balancing talent development with BCCI’s regulatory framework.

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