Manjot Kalra likely to play knockouts of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018

Young Delhi batsman Manjot Kalra is in fray to play the knockout stages of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kalra is reportedly being considered by the selectors of team Delhi for the key fixtures of the tournament. The knock out stages of the premier one-day tournament of Indian domestic circuit will commence on February 21. For the stats, Manjot Kalra was one of the top performers for the India U19 side at the ICC U19 World Cup this year.

Kalra had scored an unbeaten ton in the finals of the tournament against a good Australia U19 side. His knock had seen the Indian colts clinch the ultimate glory and create history yet again at the U19 level. Soon after his arrival in India, Kalra was congratulated by many for his stupendous knock. He was also seen meeting the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who also congratulated him for his successful tournament.

While some of his India U19 teammates managed to find places in their respective domestic sides for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018, Manjot Kalra failed to get in to the Delhi squad. When asked about the same, he had conceded that the Delhi squad was finalized earlier than the other teams. However, he had maintained that he is in talks with the Delhi selectors and was hopeful to play the knockout stages of the tournament.

Now, as per the reports in Sportstarlive, it is learnt the selectors would consider his name even though he did not figure in the Delhi team for the league phase in Himachal Pradesh. While this remains to be a concern for the selectors, there is another big worry for them. They are under the pressure from the BCCI for having picked up a non-performer in the squad at the expense of a player who had scored runs in local cricket.

Furthermore, the availability of senior player Gautam Gambhir also remains under dark clouds. Gambhir is yet to give a green signal on his fitness. The team will be hoping that he gets fit on time for the tournament.

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