LUCKNOW, Aug. 7 -- It's been a roller coaster ride for spinner Zeeshan Ansari, who first drew attention with tidy leg-spin performances in domestic cricket, but his path has not been linear. Ansari's most recent outing for India A against Sri Lanka A in Sri Lanka, where he finished wicketless may look like a setback on paper. However, for a young wrist-spinner such experiences are growth milestones rather than final verdicts.

Before that Sri Lanka trip, his last first-class appearance had been way back in 2020, which makes his current push back into red-ball relevance all the more important. The upcoming Duleep Trophy for Central Zone offers Ansari the platform he needs.

Red-ball cricket tests a spinner's control, patience, and ability ...