Zeeshan Ansari's long road back: from IPL benches to India A's leg-spin option

Zeeshan Ansari is a leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh who has been in the news this week for a comeback story built slowly over several seasons. After a long gap from red-ball cricket following a Ranji Trophy appearance in early 2020, he earned a call-up to the India A squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, putting him back in the frame for longer-format cricket.

In recent interviews he said that time around the India A setup and his IPL stint made him a better bowler, and he credited spin greats Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori with helping him refine his craft. He has also been among the leading wicket-takers in the UP T20 League, and reports place him in the Central Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy.

The searches are trending because his name keeps appearing in selection conversations. For a wrist-spinner who spent years outside the national reckoning, the current run is a reminder that domestic form and patience can still open doors.