West Zone coach Amit Dani wants Duleep Trophy’s knock-out format changed

MUMBAI: When the Duleep Trophy semifinals began at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Sunday, 19-time champions West Zone were conspicuous by their absence.West crashed out after a 52-run defeat to North Zone in a low-scoring quarterfinal, with North posting 251 and 222, while West managed 187 and 234.Former Mumbai first-class cricketer Amit Dani, who coached West Zone this season, believes the tournament’s knockout format needs a rethink.“I suggested to the BCCI that it should seriously consider not having knockout matches until the final in the Duleep Trophy. It’s the first tournament of the season and players are often a bit rusty. Even if North Zone had been knocked out after just one game, it wouldn’t have been fair on their players either,” Dani told TOI.Dani argued that the current format limits opportunities for players and selectors alike.“The selectors wanted to watch Tanush Kotian, but they got to see him in only one match. It was a difficult wicket where the ball was gripping and turning, making batting tough. Players need more games. With the final scheduled only on Sept 6, there is room for one more league match,” he said.Despite the early exit, Dani found plenty of positives in West’s campaign. He reserved special praise for Musheer Khan, whose 96 in the fourth innings was the highest score of the match.“On that wicket, it was a top-quality knock. It wasn’t easy to bat there, but Musheer showed superb temperament and skill,” Dani said.He felt Anshul Kamboj’s brisk 60 in North’s first innings and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s run-out while batting on 66 in the chase proved decisive.“For us, Musheer, Tanush and Tushar Deshpande stood out. Tushar bowled with real fire and intensity. I hope all three are considered for India A or the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup,” Dani added.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.