Duleep Trophy 2026: Rahul, Siraj and Padikkal Added to South Zone Squ…

In a major boost for South Zone, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal have been added to the squad for the Duleep Trophy final against East Zone, which will be played from September 6-10 at Chennai’s M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

With Rahul, Siraj and Padikkal not involved in the T20I series against Afghanistan or the Asian Games, the trio will be available for South Zone’s Duleep Trophy final. Their inclusion is also in line with the BCCI’s policy of ensuring centrally contracted and capped players turn out for domestic cricket whenever their international commitments allow. cricket-ipl.co.za

All three players were part of India’s squad that won the two-match series against Sri Lanka last month. Padikkal was the Player of the Series after finishing as his team’s leading run-scorer. Rahul also did well with the bat, but for some reason, Siraj did not look at his best with the ball.

With the addition of these three players, South Zone are expected to make multiple changes to their playing XI.

South Zone have also added Chama Milind to the squad as cover for Vidhwath Kaverappa. The Karnataka seamer sustained an injury during the semi-final against North Zone, which ended on Wednesday.

The availability of captain Tilak Varma, however, remains uncertain. It is yet to be decided whether he will be cleared to play the final in Chennai or instructed to report to the T20I squad in Delhi ahead of the Afghanistan series. As reported by RevSportz, India head coach Gautam Gambhir will take the final call on the T20I squad members who are also in contention to play the Duleep Trophy final.

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 4 (ANI): The Indian contingent remains unbeaten at the end of the first day of the Team Event at the Pickleball World Cup, currently ongoing in Da Nang, Vietnam till the 6th of September 2026. This marks the end of the league stage, where a dominant India defeated Antigua and Barbuda, Israel and the Czech Republic.

The India pro squad, consisting of Harsh Mehta, Arjun Singh, Anish Froilan, Aman Patel, Pearl Amalsadiwala, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Aaliya Ebrahim and Mihika Yadav, dominated their first two matches, beating Antigua & Barbuda and Israel with a scoreline of 6-0 each, according to a press release from the Indian Pickleball Association.

The final match of the league stage was played against the Czech Republic, where India comfortably won with a scoreline of 5-1. Each tie had a total of 6 matches: Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles 1, Mixed Doubles 2, Women’s Singles and Men’s Singles. They will now face Portugal on Friday in the round of 32.

“The team morale is very high; we have started the tournament with positive energy and great results. Team members are all playing well, which is most important and hence the result. We are preparing mentally for eliminations tomorrow," said Harsh Mehta, Captain, India Team.

“It was an exhilarating feeling during the parade, walking as part of the Indian delegation during the opening ceremony of the Pickleball World Cup 2026. Competing internationally brings natural pre-match nerves, but true champions are defined by their ability to rise above anxiety and deliver when it matters most. We are delighted to see our athletes embodying this spirit, performing with resilience, passion, and determination and achieving victories that make the nation proud. Team India’s success is a testament to their commitment and the collective effort behind them. We look forward to their continued excellence as they showcase India’s growing strength in the sport of pickleball. Thanks to our sponsors Electrorush, Picklebay, Cosmic Birla Group and Lucknow Leopards for helping us through this journey," said Aalap Sharma, Treasurer, IPA.

The India Senior squad also finished strong on day 1 as they beat Germany and Nepal 4-0 each. Led by Suryaveer Singh, who is also the President of the India Pickleball Association made their place in the round of 32.

“Extremely proud of all the individual performances until today and the spirit that the contingent has brought into the team event. We are currently in 4th place on the medal tally, and we are confident that we will move a few places if this momentum continues," said Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President, Indian Pickleball Association.

Earlier in the event, India raked a total of 37 medals with 6 golds, 16 silvers and 15 bronze medals.

List of respective medal winners:

Vishal Choudhary & Siddharth Reddy -

Ajeet Bhardwaj and Vasudevan Kothandaraman -60+ Men’s Doubles – Bronze

Bhushan Akut & Ashok Rohira 60+ doubles – 4.5 Men’s Doubles – Gold

Bhushan Akut – Men’s Singles 60+ 4.0 – Gold

Ashok Rohira – Men’s Singles – 60+ 4.0 – Silver

Nikhil and Vignesh 30+ Men’s Doubles 4.5 – Silver

Sreekar and Vivek Reddy 40+ Men’s Doubles – 4.5 – Bronze

Vishal and Siddharth – 40+ for

Kiran - Men’s Singles 50+ ( 4-4.5) – Silver

Sanjana Sirimalla – Women’s doubles 4.5 – Silver medal

Naveen Tummala – 50+ Men’s Singles – 3.5 to 4.0 category – Bronze

Lokesh Bhavsar – Men’s 30+ Singles below 4.0 – Silver

Roshan Mishra – Men’s Singles 30+ below 4.0 – Bronze

Kiaan Contractor – Men’s Singles 4.5 – Silver

Eswaran Annamalai – 60+ Men’s Singles 3.5 – Bronze

Raghav Mallik – 60+ Men’s Singles 3.5 – Silver

Rocky Raghavan – 50+ 3.5 and above – Mixed Doubles – Bronze

Siddharth Reddy and Fayrouz Zaidi 40+ 4.0 – 4.5 Mixed Doubles – Silver

Bhushan Akut(India) – 60+ 4.5 Mixed Doubles – Gold

Vishal Choudhary – 40+ Mixed Doubles

Vivek Reddy – 40+ Men’s Singles >4.5 – Gold

Shaks Devnani – 60+ Women’s Singles >4.5 – Bronze

Neha Arora – 40+ Women’s Singles

Fayrouz Zaidi – 40+ Women’s Singles

Sanjana Sirimalla – Open Women’s Singles

Prashanti Lakamsani – 50+ Women’s Singles

Petulia Balaji – Women’s Singles 60+-3.0 – Silver

Harsh Mehta – Pro Men’s Doubles Open – Bronze. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

The debate around transgender participation in sport has rarely been short of strong opinions. But behind the headlines and social media arguments are questions that are far more complicated: eligibility, physiology, fairness, inclusion and, ultimately, who gets the opportunity to compete.

Anaya Bangar now finds herself at the centre of that conversation.

Cricket Australia’s decision to make Anaya eligible to pursue a pathway into elite women’s cricket in Australia has opened a new chapter in her cricketing journey. The decision has also triggered a wider debate, with South African cricket great Marizanne Kapp describing Cricket Australia’s decision as “absolutely ridiculous”.

For Anaya, however, the decision represents something much more personal. After a period in which she felt she might have to choose between her identity and the sport she loves, the clearance has given her renewed hope of competing in women’s cricket.

Her eligibility, however, does not mean an automatic place in the Women’s Big Bash League. Anaya will have to establish herself through club cricket, perform on the field and meet Cricket Australia’s ongoing eligibility requirements, including testosterone testing.

In an exclusive conversation with RevSportz, Anaya spoke at length about what Cricket Australia’s decision means to her, the science and medical process behind her case, the distinction between inclusion and competitive fairness, the different approaches taken by Cricket Australia and the ICC, and her hopes of making her mark as a left-arm spinner and left-handed batter.

Here are the key excerpts:

Trisha Ghosal: Anaya, what does Cricket Australia’s decision actually mean for you, and where are you in the process of pursuing a pathway into women’s cricket?

Anaya Bangar: When I got the news that I was eligible and had been cleared to play women’s cricket, it felt like my life was back. It felt like I had hope again, that I could play, compete and have the chance to just be myself out there on the field.

For the longest time, I felt like I had to either give up on myself or give up on cricket. But now that this is happening, it’s a game-changer for me.

I’m just looking forward to going there and playing cricket. But that doesn’t mean I have clearance or a fixed position to play in the WBBL. I have to go there and play club cricket, prove myself through my performances and, subject to my arrival on March 27, undergo a testosterone test.

As long as I comply with those requirements, I’ll be cleared to play. So, again, it’s not just about getting clearance. I still need to work on myself, perform on the field and get picked, which is how I intend to approach it as well.

Trisha: When you saw the reaction to Cricket Australia’s decision, particularly Marizanne Kapp calling it “absolutely ridiculous”, what was your immediate reaction? What do you wish people understood about what this process has actually been like for you?

Anaya: To be honest, it was expected that someone or the other would try to raise questions or scrutinise me in that way. I understand the political climate we live in, and I understand how trans athletes are looked upon and treated. I also understand where people who want to spread negativity around this come from.

I think a lot of it is based on a lack of education and awareness around the topic. When we’re talking about potential advantages, I have scientific evidence backing my case. I have Manchester University’s report, my testosterone levels are in check, and all of it affects muscle mass, hormonal density and other aspects of the body.

On top of that, Cricket Australia has made sure that it has a panel in place, with researchers who have studied this topic and know far more about it than many of us do. People are quick to put their assumptions and judgements on this topic.

But, again, it’s about understanding the topic, educating yourself and growing from it.

Trisha: Let’s take this conversation a little more towards the science, because there is genuine confusion around it. What happens to the physiological changes when someone who has gone through male puberty undergoes hormone therapy? What have doctors, scientists or specialists explained to you about what changes and what may not completely change?

Anaya: You lose muscle mass and you lose most of the physical capabilities you have gained through testosterone and during male puberty. I don’t deny the fact that it gives you a lot of strength and some of the advantages that people talk about.

But when you’re suppressing your testosterone for a long period of time, along with going through hormone replacement therapy and surgeries as well, my body doesn’t produce testosterone anymore. That diminishes your body a lot. You basically aren’t functioning or moving the same way that you used to.

Physically, I could do 50 push-ups before; now I can only do two at maximum. That’s how drastic the change has been.

Again, people are quick to put their views and assumptions on this topic, but it’s science-based. People need to look at the facts rather than hear about feelings and opinions.

Trisha: Do you think the effects of transition can vary from individual to individual? Is there a particular scientific principle that applies across the board, or are people quick to judge because they don’t understand the individual effects?

Anaya: I think it’s very complex because each transition and each body is different. Considering the fact that people may have gone through male puberty as well, you need to assess cases on a case-by-case basis rather than provide general rules and regulations.

That is why such panels are set up in the first place. Once people understand that and recognise how different each transition and each body can be, that’s when we create a far better place for understanding.

Trisha: The ICC and Cricket Australia have arrived at different policies. The ICC takes a puberty-based approach for international cricket, while Cricket Australia allows a domestic pathway based on eligibility requirements, including testosterone levels. Having gone through this process yourself, do you think one approach better addresses the question of fairness, or is the issue more complicated than either policy suggests?

Bangar: I think how Cricket Australia is handling this is far better, more inclusive and more dignified towards the principles of women’s sport, while making sure fairness is maintained at the same time.

With the ICC and BCCI, the BCCI has stayed quiet about this despite my repeated attempts to reach out to them, while the ICC has set up rules which, in my view, aren’t science-based but assumption-based. They haven’t actually considered the approach that Cricket Australia has taken.

Trisha: When we talk about the unfair advantage that is often discussed, do you think people forget that cricket is a very skill-based sport? It’s not only about muscle mass or bone strength; there is also a significant skill component. Do you think that argument is sometimes missing from the sports-science debate?

Anaya: Exactly. Cricket is a skill-based sport.

Thank you for bringing that up. You’re the first one to talk about this as well. It is purely skill-based and it’s a team-based sport.

People need to take that into consideration as well.

Trisha: You’ve spoken about following Cricket Australia’s regulations. But putting the policy aside for a moment, what does fairness in women’s cricket mean to you? Do you believe inclusion and competitive fairness necessarily have to be in conflict?

Anaya: It’s about keeping both inclusion and fairness in mind and building policies around that, basically ensuring that there is no unfair advantage.

Again, it’s trans women and women at the end of the day. But it’s about having spaces and rules through which we don’t have cases of people transitioning just for women’s cricket, which isn’t true for most of us.

We have to go through years and years of therapy and years and years of physical change.

Trisha: If you could have one conversation with women cricketers who are uncomfortable with trans athletes participating in women’s cricket, what would you want them to understand about you? And what would you be willing to listen to from them?

Anaya: I understand where those concerns come from. If I were in that place, I would probably feel the same way.

But I would ask them to keep an open mind and look at the science behind it rather than how the world is projecting its assumptions onto people like us.

I’ve already put my case out there. It’s all on paper. It’s not based on personal feelings or opinions.

Trisha: And when you begin your cricket journey, what do we see you as, an all-rounder, a batter? What do you have in mind when it comes to cricket?

Anaya: I’ve always been a left-arm spinner and a left-hand batter. So I’m looking forward to proving myself and doing my best on the field in those roles.

Trisha: Finally, is there anything you feel we haven’t covered that you would like to say?

Anaya: No, I think it’s all covered. Thank you so much.

Trisha: All the best, and thank you for speaking to us.

Anaya: Thank you so much.

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The post Anaya Bangar on Cricket Australia Eligibility, Trans Athletes, Science and Fairness: “My Life Is Back” appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.