India Test stalwarts Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have been left out of the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy.
Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara left out of West Zone Duleep Trophy squad
The Duleep Trophy is set to kick off the 2025-26 Indian domestic season, running from August 28 to September 15. Last year, the tournament went away from the zonal format, with four teams – India A, B, C and D – selected by the BCCI. This year, it will return to the zonal format with six teams participating; North, South, East, West, Central and North East, picked by the selectors of the Ranji teams in each zone.
The West Zone squad, comprising players from Mumbai, Maharashtra, Baroda, Saurashtra and Gujarat, was announced on Friday (August 1).
The headline news is that the experienced pair of Ajinkya Rahane (Mumbai) and Cheteshwar Pujara (Saurashtra) have been left out, perhaps putting a full stop to any lasting aspirations of the pair making a return to India's Test team. Rahane and Pujara scored 467 and 402 runs respectively in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, averaging 35.9 and 40.2.
India internationals Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan and Ruturaj Gaikwad are also part of the squad, with another in Shardul Thakur named captain. Thakur has never captained in a first-class match, but led Mumbai twice in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December 2024.
West Zone Duleep Trophy squad, full list
Batters
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Aarya Desai, Manan Hingrajia
Wicketkeepers
Harvik Desai, Saurabh Nawale
All-rounders
Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Jaymeet Patel, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja
Bowlers
Shardul Thakur (c), Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswalla
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