Vansh Jaitley has earned a spot in the Delhi U19 team for the prestigious Vinoo Mankad Trophy despite scoring only 84 runs in trial matches. By relation, Vansh is the grandson of India’s former Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley. However, Vansh didn't have a spectacular performance on the trail that could have sealed his sport.

This, thus raising eyebrows, brings his relationship with senior Jaitley under the microscope. Across four trial matches, the young cricketer managed to score just 84 runs, maintaining a strike rate of 67.74.

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On the other hand, Madhur Yadav, who scored 503 runs in the same number of matches and was the top run scorer amongst the contenders, was denied a spot in the squad. Over the years, Delhi Cricket board has faced many controversies over selection process with players like Virat Kohli stating they faced unfair selections during under-age cricket. This, quite obviously, has again boiled the debate over the selection process.

Vansh Jaitley is in Delhi U19 team for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy.

Vansh scored 84 runs in 4 trial matches at a SR of 67.74 & got selected for Delhi U19.

But the Top Run-scorer in the trial matches Madhur Yadav who scored 503 runs in 4 matches is rejected.

Delhi Cricket For you. https://t.co/c0PTRnvi66

— Kaushik Kashyap (@CricKaushik_) September 29, 2024

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Vinoo Mankad Trophy: a gateway for youngsters under speculation of favoritism

The Vinoo Mankad Trophy is one of the most anticipated tournaments in Indian youth cricket, often serving as a launchpad for future stars.

However, the exclusion of Madhur Yadav, despite his stellar performance, has led to discussions regarding merit-based selection within the Delhi Cricket setup.

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As Vansh gears up for the tournament, all eyes will be on his performance. Especially in light of the ongoing conversation surrounding his selection over higher-scoring candidates, he has little to no way of escape.

Karnataka all-rounder Shreyas Gopal grabbed a stunning hat-trick against Baroda in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to enter a respectable list of legendary players. Playing for Karnataka, the leg-spinning all-rounder dismissed star Baroda cricketers such as Hardik Pandya, and Krunal Pandya for golden ducks. 

Gopal dismissed Shashwat Rawat who scored a scorching 63 off 37 balls to pick up the momentum for the Karnataka team. Following that, Gopal also dismissed star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya on a golden duck. Hardik's brother Krunal Pandya, who is also the captain of Baroda, faced the same fate as he returned to the pavilion with a golden duck by his name. 

Triple Treat 👌👌👌

🔟.1⃣ - Shashwat Rawat
🔟.2⃣- Hardik Pandya
🔟.3⃣ - Krunal Pandya

Re-live Shreyas Gopal's brilliant hat-trick against Baroda in Indore 🎥 🔽

That catch on the hat-trick ball 🔥#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/VizwmvftQI pic.twitter.com/RxSHIVyqy5

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 3, 2024

Gopal's sensational hat-trick has undoubtedly excited CSK fans, who are eagerly counting down to see his impact in the upcoming IPL season. CSK secured his services for a base price of 30 lakhs in the recent Mega Auction for IPL 2025. 

However, the 31-year-old all-rounder has entered the globe of cricketing stars after registering his third career T20 hat-trick. He is now positioned third in the list of most hat-tricks in T20 cricket. 

Shreyas Gopal is in the form of his life after being picked by CSK.

2-30(4) vs Ukhand
1-26(4) vs Tri
1-23(4) vs Sau
5-13(4) vs Sik
1-14(4) vs TN
4-19(4) vs Bar (hattrick)

Leading wicket taker:
14 wkts at 8.9, Eco 5.2, SR 10.2

Outrageous numbers in a high scoring SMAT season! pic.twitter.com/YCtBk3uvUm

— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) December 3, 2024

Shreyas Gopal recorded his first T20 hat-trick in Karnataka's face-off against Haryana in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy when he picked up the three wickets of Navdeep Saini, Jayant Yadav and Amit Mishra. His second came in the same year while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, as he dismissed Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis. After almost 5 years, now he has grabbed his third. 

Shreyas Gopal shines with a stunning hat-trick against Baroda, dismissing Shashwat Rawat, Krunal, and Hardik Pandya! 🔥🙌

Recently picked up by CSK for ₹30 lakhs at the IPL Auction 2025, he's ready to make an impact! 💛#ShreyasGopal #CSK #IPL2025 #Cricket #RashidKhan #cricket pic.twitter.com/sP0tiG5vrZ

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) December 4, 2024

Most hat-tricks in T20 Cricket

Tilak Varma has etched himself in history to become the first Indian batter to hit 150 runs in T20 cricket. The 22-year-old youngster has smashed a staggering 151 off just 67 balls for his domestic side Hyderabad against Meghalaya on Saturday in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. 

The left-handed batter has surpassed Shreyas Iyer's record of scoring 147 which was by far the highest individual score by any Indian batsman in T20 cricket. Shreyas scored his 147 off just 55 balls for Mumbai against Sikkim in the same tournament in 2019. 

Tilak Varma has now clinched the top spot and also becomes only the 12th batter to record a 150+ score in T20s. 

The 22-year-old is the captain of his domestic side Hyderabad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and he came out to bat in no. 3. Tilak's half-century came off 28 balls, and he went on to complete his ton off just 51 balls. Tilak built his scorching innings with 14 fours and 10 sixes and maintained a strike rate of 225.37. 

Another record 

However, Tilak Varma has made an international T20 record as well, as he becomes the first-ever batter in the world to score three consecutive tons. The left-handed youngster was named as the Player of The Series in India's recent T20 series victory against South Africa. Tilak scored back-to-back hundreds against South Africa and now in 10 days, he has scored three tons and stormed into the history books.

🚨 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙩 🚨

Tilak Varma 🤝 Record-breaking Feat! 🔝 🙌

Congratulations! 👏 👏#TeamIndia | #SMAT pic.twitter.com/4BnLFZzRRf

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 23, 2024

Highest individual score by Indian batters in T20s

• Tilak Varma (Hyderabad) – 151 (67) vs Meghalaya, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024
• Shreyas Iyer (Mumbai) – 147 (55) vs Sikkim, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019 
• Punit Bisht (Meghalaya) – 146* (51) vs Mizroam, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021
• Mohammed Azharuddeen (Kerala) – 137* (54) vs Mumbai, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 
• Prithvi Shaw (Mumbai) – 134 (61) vs Assam, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022 

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been named in the Bengal squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Shami, who played his first match in 360 days in the Ranji Trophy game against Madhya Pradesh, will boost Bengal's chances in the tournament.

Sudip Kumar Gharami, who was Bengal's captain in the white-ball format last season, has been named as the captain of the squad for this season as well. 

In the 20-men squad, Bengal has named three wicket-keepers for the tournament. Abishek Porel, who recently toured Australia for the India-A team, will continue as the main man behind the stumps. Meantime, Shakir Habib Gandhi and Agniv Pan will be the other keeper-batters of the team. Interestingly, all three wicket-keepers of the squad are left-handed batters, giving coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla a few options to play with in the batting order.

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Sudip Chatterjee, who came back from Tripura to rejoin his home state, will continue as one of the top-order batters for Bengal. The left-handed batter has done well in the Ranji Trophy this season and will be a key player for Bengal in the white-ball format as well. Ranjot Singh Khaira and Sudip Gharami will be the top-order batters for them this time.

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Ritwick Roy Chowdhury, one of the best white-ball finishers for Bengal, along with all-rounders Shahbaz Ahmed, Karan Lal, Writtick Chatterjee and Saksham Chaudhary will be key clog for Laxmi Ratan Shukla and team management. Ritwick and Shaksham will be the pace bowling all-rounders of the team, while Karan, Writtick and Shahbaz will be the spinner all-rounders.

In the absence of Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep, Ishan Porel, Mohammed Kaif, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Sayan Ghosh and Kanishk Seth will share the load of bowling those crucial overs along with new names like Soummyadip Mandal. The inclusion of U-23 captain Prayas Ray Barman means there will be enough variations while defending totals as well.

Bengal is placed in Group A alongside Punjab, Hyderabad, Mizoram, MP, Meghalaya, Bihar, and Rajasthan. 

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Bengal squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024

Sudip Kr Gharami (captain), Mohammad Shami, Abishek Porel (WK), Sudip Chatterjee, Shahbaz Ahmed, Karan Lal, Writtick Chatterjee, Ritwick Roy Chowdhury, Shakir Habib Gandhi (WK), Ranjot Singh Khaira, Prayas Ray Barman, Agniv Pan (WK), Pradipta Pramanik, Saksham Chaudhary, Ishan Porel, Md Kaif, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Sayan Ghosh, Kanishk Seth, Soummyadip Mandal.

Bengal's schedule in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024

• 23 November' 24 - Bengal vs Punjab - Rajkot - 4.30 pm
• 25 November 2024 - Bengal vs Hyderabad - Rajkot - 4.30 pm
• 27 November 2024 - Bengal vs Mizoram - Saurashtra - 9 am  
• 29 November 2024 - Bengal vs Madhya Pradesh - Saurashtra - 1.30 pm
• 1 December 2024 - Bengal vs Meghalaya - Rajkot - 11 am
• 3 December 2024 - Bengal vs Bihar - Saurashtra - 9 am 
• 5 December 2024 - Bengal vs Rajasthan - Rajkot - 11 am

Kerala's 37-year-old all-rounder Jalaj Saxena has created history by becoming the first player to take 6000 runs and 400 wickets in Ranji Trophy. Jalaj has not yet made his international debut but he has achieved this important feat in Indian domestic cricket.

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Jalaj Saxena has achieved this record in the match against Uttar Pradesh. By taking five wickets in the first innings, he destroyed the batting order of Uttar Pradesh and also crossed the mark of 400 wickets.

13th player to take 400 wickets

Kerala captain Sachin Baby won the toss and decided to bowl first, after which his off-spinner gave them the advantage by destroying UP's batting lineup. Before the match against UP, Saxena was just 4 wickets away from the 400-wicket mark. He started by taking the wicket of Aryan Juyal and then achieved this brilliant feat by dismissing Madhav Kaushik, Siddarth Yadav, and Nitish Rana.

Jalaj Saxena is the 13th player to take 400 wickets in Ranji Trophy and his current form is also very good. This season he has already taken five wickets in two innings. Earlier, Saxena had also completed 6,000 runs in first-class cricket during Kerala’s game against Karnataka. 

Jalaj's first-class career

Jalaj started his Ranji career with Madhya Pradesh in 2005 and spent over a decade with them. During this period he took 4041 runs and 159 wickets. He joined the Kerala team in the 2016–17 season and has become an important player for them over the years. In first class cricket, Jalaj has so far scored 6795 runs with an average of 33.97, which includes 14 centuries and 33 fifties.

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Jalaj Saxena also joined the ranks of legends last season when he became only the fourth player in the history of Indian domestic cricket to score 9000 runs and take 600 wickets across all formats. In this matter, he has included himself in the list of Vinoo Mankad, Madan Lal, and Parvez Rasool.

Jalaj has been playing domestic cricket for two decades, but he is yet to get a chance to debut with Indian Cricket Team.

Bengal U-19 openers Vishal Bhati and Ankit Chatterjee powered them into the final of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2024 as they defeated Chhattisgarh by 131 runs. This is the first time since 2013 that Bengal had qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament and they made it memorable by entering the final as well. Bhati, who scored 111 in 117 balls and also took 22/3 with the ball in hand, was declared the player of the match.

Bengal had defeated a strong Maharsathra in the quarter-finals by 96 runs and Vishal Bhati was instrumental for Bengal with a 23/4 spell with the ball in hand. 

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In the semi-final, opener Ankit Chatterjee supported Bhati really well and it was their 190-run opening partnership that laid the cornerstone for Bengal's success. After Ankit's dismissal on 92 from 102 balls, Bhati was also dismissed 19 runs later after a stunning 111 from 117 balls. Bhati's inning included 8 fours and 5 sixes while Ankit hit 12 boundaries and one six.

Though Bengal collapsed like a house of cards after that, it was Agniswar Das, who played a quick knock of 42 from 33 balls to give them the momentum to finish on 285/8 in 50 overs.

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Bengal opening ball bowlers Debangshu Pakhira and Yudhajit Guha struck early as Chhattisgarh lost two wickets within the first 7 runs. But, though they tried to build up a partnership with Alok Kumar Gupta and Sahil Shariff, the required run rate kept on going out of their reach.

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It was Ashutosh Kumar and Vishal Bhait who tore apart the Chhattisgarh middle order with their incredible discipline. Ashutosh finished with 30/4 while Vishal finished with 22/3 as Chattishgarh were bundled out for 154.

"It was entirely a team effort. Every member stepped up when it was needed most. I am happy with the victory. Vishal played brilliantly, and Ankit and Ashutosh were superb. The way the team handled the pressure on a crucial semifinal match was outstanding," Bengal U-19 head coach Saurasish Lahiri said via a press release. 

Bengal will now face Gujarat in the final on Sunday in Rajkot.

Scores

Bengal

Chhattisgarh Batting