Shardul Thakur has been appointed as the captain of the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy matches, which are set to commence on August 28. This announcement came after a selection meeting held at the MCA’s Sharad Pawar Indoor Cricket Academy. The 15-member squad includes prominent players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, while notable former international cricketers Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are absent from the lineup.
The selection committee, led by Sanjay Patil, has also prepared a list of seven standby players that includes Mahesh Pithiya and Shivalik Sharma. West Zone will start their campaign on September 4 after gaining direct entry into the semifinals, with the final match scheduled for September 11. All matches are to be held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has been designated as captain of the East Zone squad, with Abhimanyu Easwaran serving as vice-captain. The East Zone team comprises five players from Bengal, and includes notable contributors like Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep. A standby list has also been announced for the East Zone that features Sudip Kumar Gharami among others.
This Duleep Trophy promises to showcase some of India’s upcoming cricket talents while providing experienced players an opportunity to shine in a competitive environment.
The tournament is anticipated to foster excitement among fans, as regional teams battle for supremacy in a contest that has historically produced thrilling performances and emerging cricket stars.