Key Players Return for Vijay Hazare Trophy Knockouts; KL Rahul Opts for a Break

Karnataka’s Prasidh Krishna, Devdutt Padikkal, and Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar are set to bolster their respective squads for the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout matches, which begin in Vadodara on Thursday. The trio recently featured in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia and now return to the domestic stage.  

KL Rahul, however, will not be part of the Karnataka squad for the knockouts. Having played all five Tests in the series against Australia, the Indian vice-captain has requested a break. His participation in the second phase of the Ranji Trophy, starting January 23, remains uncertain and will be decided later. 

India head coach Gautam Gambhir had earlier expressed his hope for frontline players to feature in domestic red-ball cricket to maintain their competitive edge.  

Washington Sundar’s availability for Tamil Nadu is contingent on the team’s progress to the semifinals. The off-spinning all-rounder, who made 114 runs and bowled 37 overs in three Tests during the Australian tour, picked up just three wickets as pacer-friendly conditions limited his opportunities with the ball.  

Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna enters the knockout stage in top form after an impressive showing in the fifth Test at Sydney, where he claimed six wickets, including figures of 3/42 and 3/65 in a match-winning performance. He, along with Padikkal, is set to join the Karnataka squad on January 10, ahead of their quarterfinal match against Baroda in Vadodara.  

Padikkal, who played a solitary Test in Perth during the Border-Gavaskar series, scored 0 and 25 in India’s emphatic 295-run victory. Before his stint in Australia, the 24-year-old was in sensational form in domestic cricket, smashing four First-Class hundreds across the Duleep Trophy and the initial phase of the Ranji Trophy.  

In other updates, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed with a century in Melbourne during the Australia tour, is set to return to domestic cricket. Although Andhra failed to qualify for the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts, Nitish is likely to feature in the second phase of the Ranji Trophy.  

Andhra currently sits seventh in Elite Group B, with four points from five matches (three losses and two draws). They face Puducherry on January 23 and Rajasthan on January 30 in their remaining fixtures.  

With these key players returning to domestic cricket, the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts promise high-quality action as teams vie for supremacy.