Top 6 Performers of Deodhar Trophy 2018

The Deodhar Trophy is a premier list A cricket competition played at the Indian domestic level named after the Prof. D.B. Deodhar. Its inaugural edition was played way back in the year 1973-74 and was realigned with 2 teams - India A and India B by BCCI in the year 2015-16.

The format of this trophy comprises three teams - India A, India B, and India C playing against each other in a round-robin format. The top two teams progress to the finals. South Zone were the first winners of the inaugural season of Deodhar trophy.

Ajinkya Rahane played the captains knock in the final of Deodhar trophy

The final of the 2018-19 season was played between India B and India C at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi. Rahane and his men posted a huge total of 352 runs on the board while batting first. The captain led from the front by scoring 144 runs in the crucial decider of the tournament along with the help of Ishan Kishan. Kishan provided a stable start to India C with both the openers scoring a century.

The target of 353 runs seemed too large for the India B batting line-up as they lost all their wickets after scoring 323 runs and lost the match by 29 runs. India B’s captain Shreyas Iyer tried his best to save the match but didn’t have the support from the other end. His innings of 144 runs helped his team get close to the target but wasn’t sufficient to help India B lift the title.

India C became the champion of 2018/19 Deodhar Trophy. Here’s a look at the top 6 performers of 2018-19 Deodhar trophy:

#1 Shreyas Iyer - Leading Run Scorer

Shreyas Iyer emerged out as the most leading run scorer of 2018-19 Deodhar trophy

The 23-year-old lad from Mumbai, Shreyas Iyer, emerged as the best batsman from the tournament. Along with captaining India B, he also maintained his personal form creating new records to his name.

Shreyas Iyer rose as the leading run scorer of the trophy with 199 runs in just 3 matches at an average of 66.33 runs per match. The Mumbai batsman proved why he deserves a place in the national side by scoring runs even in the pressure situation. Iyer tried his best to help his side win the final match by scoring 144 runs. But due to the lack of support from the other batsmen, Iyer’s efforts went in vain as his side lost the tournament finale.

#2 Ajinkya Rahane - Best Batting Average

Ajinkya Rahane once again proved his worth in the shorter format by scoring runs consistently

Ajinkya Rahane has been out of the national side for the shorter format of the game due to his consistent failures to score runs at a quick rate. Rahane, by performing well in the Deodhar trophy, made a return to his classic form.

Ajinkya scored the 190 runs in 3 matches. Scoring runs at the average of 95, Rahane was just short of 9 runs from becoming the leading run scorer of the tournament. He remained the main pillar for his side in the final match as he scored crucial 144 runs at the final stage. His runs helped his side in setting the target of 353 which seemed way too high for the opposition.

Rahane became the first batsman to score runs above the average of 90 in the Deodhar trophy.

#3 Suryakumar Yadav - Best Batting Strike Rate

Suryakumar Yadav had the best batting strike rate in the tournament

Born on 14 September 1990, the right-handed batsman Suryakumar Yadav has always dominated the bowlers in the domestic seasons. He had a great start to his career while playing for Mumbai during the 2010-11 Ranji Trophy.

Yadav continued his great striking in the Deodhar Trophy too. He emerged as the batsman with the best strike rate in the tournament. The Mumbai Indians batsman scored runs at a blistering strike rate of 134 making and had a better strike than all the other batsmen in the tournament.

#4 Vijay Shankar - Most number of wickets

Vijay Shankar emerged out the leading wicket-taker of 2018-19 Deodhar trophy

Vijay Shankar from Tamil Nadu has been one of the consistent all-rounders in the domestic scene. Vijay came into the selector's eyes when he won two Man of the Match awards during the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy. He was the part of India C side for the Deodhar trophy of 2018-19.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad player was the main bowler for the champions India C side. Shankar scalped 7 wickets in 3 matches at an average of 20.86. The all-rounder played a key role in his team's win with his all-around performances.

#5 Krunal Pandya - Best Economy Rate

Krunal Pandya remained the most economical bowler of the tournament

Krunal Pandya has been in the spotlight for his performances for Mumbai Indians and has also been the cornerstone for India A with his all-around ability.

Performing his best in the domestic platform, Krunal Pandya tried his best to take India B to the title. He ended the tournament with the tag of the most economical bowler, with an economy of just 3.9. Krunal didn’t get much chance with his side failing to reach the finals but performed well to earn a national call-up.

#6 Mayank Markande - Best Bowling Figures

Mayank Markande bowled the best spell of 4/48 in the tournament.

The Mumbai Indians have nurtured a plethora of young cricketers during the IPL and Mayank Markande is one such spinner. The mighty leg-spinner proved his worth during the Indian Premier League by taking MS Dhoni’s wicket.

While playing for India B, Mayank bowled the best spell of the tournament of 4/48 against the India A side. India A batsmen had no answers to Markande’s wrist spin and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. He demolished the India A side and bowled the best spell of the tournament.