The West Zone has announced their lineup for the forthcoming Duleep Trophy 2025, and it is surprising that Ajinkya Rahane has been overlooked by the selectors.
Rahane captains Mumbai in domestic cricket, and his appointment as West Zone captain was predicted, although he has yet to secure a position, let alone captaincy. Instead, Shardul Thakur, the brilliant all-rounder, will lead the pack.
The selection committee has also rejected veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored a double hundred in the previous Ranji season. The roster also includes Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who were leaders in the previous season’s Duleep Trophy. However, they will only be included in the squad as specialist batters.
Notably, Iyer may be selected for national duty to compete in the Asia Cup 2025, which begins in September. If the announcement is true, he may be unavailable for West Zone fixtures, where they have secured a direct entry into the semi-finals following a successful finish in the previous zonal season. Star batter Yashasvi Jaiswal might be spotted in the opener’s role.
Sarfaraz Khan, on the other hand, has retained his berth following outstanding performances for the Indian side the previous season. He’s recently made headlines for focussing on his fitness regimen and returning fitter than ever. His younger brother Musheer Khan, who dazzled with a stunning 181 in Bengaluru the previous season, has not made the main team, but he will be one of seven backup players.
Other notable names in the West Zone squad include Mumbai’s all-rounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian. Tushar Deshpande and Arzan Nagwaswala are the two key pace bowlers, while Saurabh Nawale has been chosen as the wicketkeeper. Harvik Desai, from Saurashtra, will also be present to demonstrate his abilities.
West Zone squad: Shardul Thakur (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Dharmendra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswala
Stand-by players: Chintan Gaja, Musheer Khan, Mahesh Pithiya, Mukesh Chaudhary, Siddharath Desai, Urvil Patel, Shivalik Sharma
Duleep Trophy 2025 Schedule
| Match | Dates | Time (IST) | Venue |
| Quarter-Final 1 — North Zone vs East Zone | August 28-31 | 9:30 AM | CoE Ground, Bengaluru |
| Quarter Final 2 — Central Zone vs North East Zone | August 28-31 | 9:30 AM | CoE Ground B, Bengaluru |
| Semi-Final 1 — South Zone vs TBD | September 4-7 | 9:30 AM | CoE Ground, Bengaluru |
| Semi-Final 2 — West Zone vs TBD | September 4-7 | 9:30 AM | CoE Ground B, Bengaluru |
| Final | September 11-15 | 9:30 AM | CoE Ground, Bengaluru |
India
