Tripura’s Star All-Rounder Manishankar Murasing Falls Victim to the Quota System in Duleep Trophy Selection
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, August 2, 2025
In a shocking development that has sparked debate across cricket circles in Tripura and the northeastern region, the state’s most successful all-rounder, Manishankar Murasing, has been excluded from the East Zone squad for the prestigious Duleep Trophy, allegedly due to the persisting quota system in team selection.
Despite his consistent performance and merit, Manishankar failed to find a place even in the reserve list, raising serious concerns about fairness in the selection process. In contrast, Shridam Pal, another talented cricketer from Tripura, was rightfully selected based on merit and has secured a spot in the final 15-member East Zone squad. The team was selected on Friday.
However, what has triggered outrage is the fact that several players with lesser achievements than Manishankar have made it into the squad, while he has been left out altogether. According to insiders, the tradition of reserving only one spot for a Tripura player in the East Zone team continues to dominate selection decisions. This outdated practice has once again overshadowed talent and hard work.
The question now arises: How long will the quota system dictate the fate of deserving cricketers from Tripura and the Northeast? The omission of Manishankar, despite his credentials, has not only disappointed cricket fans but also put his promising career in jeopardy.
Manishankar's exclusion has fueled discussions about the need to revisit and reform the selection policy to ensure that talent, and not region-based quota, guides team decisions.
While congratulations pour in for Shridam Pal for his deserving selection, fans across Tripura express a common sentiment, “We would have been even happier if Manishankar was also included.”
The cricket community awaits a response from the selectors and cricketing authorities as the controversy over merit versus quota intensifies.
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