The Deodhar Trophy is a prestigious limited-overs cricket tournament in India. It is named after the former Indian cricketer, Prof. D. B. Deodhar, who played for the Indian cricket team in the 1920s. The Deodhar Trophy provides a platform for domestic cricketers to showcase their talent at the national level.
It is often seen as a stepping stone for young and emerging players to catch the attention of national selectors and earn a spot in the Indian cricket team. The top bookmakers in India have odds for domestic cricket with them as well.
This year’s winner of the Deodhar Trophy was the South Zone and they defeated East Zone by 3.9 Overs. Rohan Kannummal scored 107 off 75 balls at a strike rate of 142.67 and Washington Sundar picked up 3 wickets in 10 overs.
Overall, the tournament was a success and in this article, we have combined a list of 5 players who performed at their best.
1) Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag is known for his ability to hit big shots, especially in the slog overs. He is also a good timer of the ball and can play some deft shots in the middle overs. Parag is already making headlines in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals but this year, the Deodhar Trophy has turned out to be a positive tournament for the player. With 354 runs in 5 matches, Riyan Parag was the highest scorer in the tournament at an average of 88.50. He was also the highest six-hitter and third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. At the age of 21, the future for Riyan Parag looks bright and we might see him soon to be tested at a bigger platform.
2) Rohan Kunnummal
Rohan Kunnummal had a very impressive performance in the 2023 Deodhar Trophy. He scored 311 runs in 6 matches at an average of 62.20, including two centuries. He was also the leading run-scorer for South Zone in the tournament. Kunnummal's best performance came in the final against East Zone, where he scored 107 runs off 75 balls. He was the only batsman to score a century in the final, and his innings helped South Zone to a comfortable victory. Kunnummal's performance in the Deodhar Trophy has put him in contention for a place in the Indian team. He is a talented batsman with a good temperament, and he has shown that he can score runs at the top of the order.
3) Vidwath Kaverappa
At the age of 24, Vidwath Kaverappa became the highest wicket-taker in the Deodhar Trophy season 2023. With 13 wickets in 5 matches at an economy of 4.70, Kaverappa made headlines and has gained the attention of BCCI and the selection committee. He is a tall and lanky bowler who can generate good pace and movement. He is also able to get the ball to seam away from the right-handed batsmen. Kaverappa has a good variety of bowling options, including the ability to bowl both seam and spin. He is also able to change his pace and length to keep the batsmen guessing.
4) Shahbaz Ahmed
Shabaz Ahmed gained the spotlight in Deodhar Trophy 2023 when he picked up 12 wickets in 6 matches at an economy of 4.14. He became the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament and his contribution to the East Zone will go down the history books. His performance in the Deodhar trophy will be helpful for him to make a comeback to team India shortly. He has already been part of team India and was last seen in December 2022 while playing against Bangladesh.
5) Mayank Agarwal
The experienced batsman of the South Zone, Mayank Agarwal, remains in the news because of his brilliant performance with the bat. He became the second-highest scorer in the tournament. Mayank scored 341 runs in 6 matches at an average of 68.20. The South Zone batter has lost his place in team India because of his inconsistency in international cricket. However, there are still chances that if he shows positive form, BCCI might select him in the red-ball format for team India.
