Indore’s Venkatesh to lead MP in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Indore: City star Venkatesh Iyer will lead Madhya Pradesh's men's cricket team in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, starting December 24 in Ahmedabad, as the state looks to make a strong impression in India's premier domestic 50-over tournament. Known for his aggressive batting and calm leadership, Iyer brings both experience and confidence to a squad blending seasoned campaigners and young talent.The 16-member team announced by the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association on Thursday includes Himanshu Mantri as wicketkeeper and dependable batsmen like Yash Dubey and Shubham Sharma. All-rounders Harpreet Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, and Tripuresh Singh add options in both departments, while Aryan Pandey and Rahul Batham provide additional bowling strength. Ritik Tada is expected to play a pivotal role in the lower order, contributing quick runs and occasional overs to support the attack. Notably, the squad includes two recent notable IPL picks. Shivang Kumar, an all-rounder, and Mangesh Yadav, a left-arm pacer, have both been drafted into top franchises, bringing valuable experience of high-pressure matches to the state team. Madhav Tiwari joins squad subject to fitness, adding further balance to the lineup, while Saransh Jain offers bowling and batting depth. TNN