Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan named in West Zone squad for Deodhar Trophy 2023

For the upcoming 2023 Deodhar Trophy season starting in Puducherry starting July 24, West Zone have added Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan to their squad. The two Mumbai batters were among the top run getters for the 41-time winners in the Ranji season earlier this year.
Shaw, who had a forgetful IPL 2023 season, was recently put under scanner for his aggressive style of play. “Personally, I feel I don’t have to change my game, but a little smarter than what I am. I can’t bat like Pujara sir bats or Pujara sir can’t bat like me,” the Mumbai opener had said. “So, what I am trying to do are those things that have brought me here till, for example, the aggressive batting, I don’t like to change that.”
Sarfaraz Khan on the other hand, has been knocking on the Indian dressing room door for a while now owing to consent performances in first class cricket. On the omission from the Indian Test squad for the West Indies tour, Sunil Gavaskar had told India Today, “At the end of the day, if you are unfit, you are not going to score hundreds. So cricket fitness is most important. I don’t have a problem with you wanting to do the Yo-Yo test or whatever it is, but the Yo-Yo test cannot be the only criterion. You got to make sure that the man is fit for cricket as well. And if the person, whoever it is, is fit for cricket, then I don’t think it should really matter.”
Among other editions, India A skipper Priyank Panchal has been named skipper. Shivam Dube and Tushar Deshpande, who were part of the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL-winning squad, have also been added. So is the 2022 U19 World Cup winning pacer Rajvardhan Hangargekar.

Top order batter Rahul Tripathi and left arm pacer Chetan Sakariya are among other additions to the 12-time Deodhar Trophy winning side.