Slated to be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from October 1 to October 5, this match promises to be a thrilling contest between India's domestic heavyweights. Ruturaj Gaikwad to Lead Rest of India Leading the Rest of India side will be Ruturaj Gaikwad, with Abhimanyu Easwaran named as his deputy. The squad also includes prominent names such as Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Ishan Kishan, and Prasidh Krishna. However, the selection has raised a few eyebrows due to the absence of some players who performed exceptionally well in the last domestic cycle, as well as in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy. In their official release, the BCCI stated, "The Men's Selection Committee has picked the Rest of India (RoI) squad for the upcoming IDFC First Bank ZR Irani Cup 2024 to be played against Mumbai, the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy champions." The Rest of India squad is as follows: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar, Ricky Bhui, Shashwat Rawat, Khaleel Ahmed, Rahul Chahar. Sarfaraz Khan, Yash Dayal, & Dhruv Jurel put on standby. Test Players on Standby for Irani Cup Additionally, the BCCI clarified that Dhruv Jurel, Yash Dayal and Sarfaraz Khan's participation is contingent upon them not being selected for India's second Test match against Bangladesh, starting on September 27 in Kanpur. The selection of Dhruv Jurel, Yash Dayal, and Sarfaraz Khan comes with a significant caveat. All three players have been named in India's squad for the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. If any of them are not included in the playing XI for the second Test, they will be released to represent their respective sides for the Irani Cup. Sarfaraz Khan, one of Mumbai's key players, could play a pivotal role for the Ranji champions if released from Test duty. His inclusion would be crucial for Mumbai's chances against a strong Rest of India side. Why were Several Names Omitted from RoI squad? A notable aspect of the squad selection is its indirect hint at the composition of India's upcoming T20I squad for the series against Bangladesh, which starts on October 6. Several players who have performed well in the domestic circuit have been overlooked for the Irani Cup, likely due to their potential inclusion in India's T20I squad. Among the most prominent omissions are Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. These players, particularly Parag and Arshdeep, were standouts in the last domestic season and the Duleep Trophy, and their absence is being interpreted as a sign of their possible inclusion in the T20I setup. Samson has been touted as a backup or even a first-choice wicketkeeper if the BCCI opts to rest Rishabh Pant after the Bangladesh Test series. Similarly, Riyan Parag, who had a stellar domestic season, appears to be in line for a T20I recall. The absence of Arshdeep Singh, one of India's premier left-arm pacers, from the RoI squad further bolsters the theory of his T20I inclusion. Another notable omission is Washington Sundar, who was a key figure for India B in the Duleep Trophy. Sundar's all-round abilities make him an ideal candidate for the upcoming T20I series, where his off-spin and handy batting could be invaluable. Shivam Dube, who was part of India's victorious T20 World Cup-winning campaign, is also absent from the Mumbai squad, hinting at his likely role in India's T20I plans. Maharashtra cricketer Gaikwad - who captained the gold medal-winning young Indian side in the Asian Games 2023 last year and later captained Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2024 - might not be considered for selection. Suryakumar Yadav will be leading Team India in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, starting October 6, in what is going to be the Men in Blue's first assignment at home post-T20 World Cup triumph.