5 best performers from the Deodhar Trophy

The victorious India A squad with the 2015/16 Deodhar Trophy (Image courtesy: BCCI)The Deodhar Trophy returned to the Indian domestic scene after having been excluded from the 2014/15 calendar season. However, the traditional inter-zonal setup was scrapped and a new format was brought into place.The trophy only consisted of three teams and had only four matches in all, spanning just four days from January 25 to January 29. The teams who battled for the List A trophy were India A, India B and Gujarat.India A and India B consisted of players chosen based on their performances in the domestic circuit, especially the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's domestic 50-over tournament. Gujarat, who won the 2015/16 Vijay Hazare Trophy, were the third team in the Deodhar Trophy.However, Gujarat did not have a good run in the Deodhar Trophy as they lost both their games and failed to make it to the final of the tournament. India B who won their first two games of the tournament made it to the final breaking no sweat after good performances from the captain, Unmukt Chand.India A, who lost their first game against India B, won against Gujarat to face off against India B in the finals. The Ambati Rayudu-led squad dominated India B in the final and deservedly lifted the 2015/16 Deodhar Trophy.Although the tournament was very short and lasted only a few games, there were some notable performances from players from all the three sides and here we take a look at some of the best performers of the Deodhar Trophy:

#5 Stuart Binny (India B)

The 31-year-old all-rounder from Karnataka lived up to his billing as he performed well with both bat and ball for India B in the Deodhar Trophy.

In the three matches, Binny picked up five wickets and scored 105 runs. In the first match, Binny bowled brilliantly, picking up two wickets, to help bowl India A out for a mediocre total of 161. He did not have much to bat in the chase as he remained until the end with his captain, Unmukt Chand.

During the second match, Binny came in to bat at a time when his team was in trouble and scored a useful knock of 41 to help his side finish the first innings with a competitive total on board. He also picked up two wickets in that game and helped India B reach the final of the tournament.

In the final of the tournament, none of the batsmen from the India B top-order got going in the chase of 287. At one point of time, India B were 54/5. However, Binny finished the game as the top-scorer with a knock of 60 off 73 balls and gave some respectability to his side. Binny picked up one wicket in the game, the important one of India A captain Ambati Rayudu.

#4 Amit Mishra (India A)

The wily leg-spinner has always been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit and also took his chances when selected for the national team. Age does not seem to bother the 33-year-old as he picked up seven wickets for India A to finish the tournament as the top wicket-getter.

In the three matches, Mishra picked up 7 wickets at an average of 20.71 and gave away less than six runs an over. Although Mishra picked up only one wicket in the final of the tournament, he picked up 3 wickets apiece in the first two games.

The Haryana player showed why he still has something to offer, at least on Indian pitches, and proved to the best bowler of the India A squad.

#3 Faiz Fazal (India A)

Faiz Fazal was picked for two of the three games that India A played replacing all-rounder Jalaj Saxena, who disappointed in the first game. Fazal made the best of the opportunity he got as he scored 153 runs in two games.

The 30-year-old scored a half-century in the first match he played and bettered that by scoring a century in the final of the tournament. Fazal finished the tournament with an average of 76.50 and scored at a healthy strike rate of 83.60. Fazal also picked up a wicket with medium pace bowling in the match against Gujarat.

Ambati Rayudu, the India A captain, scored 154 runs in three games, however, Rayudu played at a low strike rate. Fazal might have had a better impact if he had played in the first game and might have also helped India A win the trophy without a loss.

#2 Dhawal Kulkarni (India B)

In spite of Amit Mishra picking up one wicket more than Dhawal Kulkarni, the man from Mumbai was the best of the bowlers in the Deodhar Trophy. He opened the bowling with the promising Nathu Singh and kept it tight from his end.

Kulkarni's figures for the three games were phenomenal as he picked up six wickets and conceded only 61 runs in the 27 overs that he bowled throughout the tournament, an economy rate of 2.25. The 27-year-old had an outstanding average of 10.16 and bowled nine maidens in the tournament, the highest for any bowler.

When all his teammates were getting hit for more than five runs an over by the India A batsmen in the final, Kulkarni remained consistent and conceded only 31 runs in 10 overs while picking up two wickets.

In the first match of the tournament against India A, Kulkarni finished the match with figures of 7-5-9-2, while in the match against Gujarat he had impressive figures of 10-3-21-2.

After putting in such a consistent performance, Kulkarni will be hoping that the Indian national team selectors would be impressed and earn a recall to the Indian side sometime in the near future.

#1 Kedar Jadhav (India A)

The top performer of the 2015/16 has to be awarded to India A’s Kedar Jadhav. Despite scoring only 7 in the first innings, Jadhav's performances in the next two games, which were crucial, made sure his side finished the batting innings well.

Jadhav finished the tournament as the top run-getter, scoring 156 runs in three matches at an average of 156. He remained not-out in two games, showing his quality to guide the team until the very end. His strike rate of 141.81 proves the attacking approach the 30-year-old from Pune employs.

His unbeaten knock of 91 in just 61 balls in the match against Gujarat took his side to a comfortable win when at one point it looked like a tricky propsect. In the final of the tournament, Jadhav again played the role of a finisher to perfection with his 39-ball 58 to help his side recover from a batting collapse and set a competitive total on board.

With India's search for a finisher still ongoing, Jadhav could very well be given a run in the national side. Coming in to bat late in the batting order, he could be a like-for-like replacement for MS Dhoni.