The Duleep Trophy 2026 is back and this time it will be full of star players who have already played for India.
The tournament will be played from August 23 to September 10. This year, six teams will compete against each other and all the matches will be held at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
A total of nine experienced Test players from India will be playing in this tournament to prove their form. Here are the big names:
1. Mohammed Shami – East Zone
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami will lead the pace attack for East Zone. The 35-year-old pacer is currently out of the Indian team but he has a big record – 229 wickets in 64 Test matches.
2. Rajat Patidar – Captain, Central Zone
Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone. He is a right-handed batter from Madhya Pradesh. He played 3 Test matches for India in 2024.
3. Ishan Kishan – Captain, East Zone
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been made the captain of East Zone. He has played 2 Tests for India, both against West Indies in 2023.
4. Shardul Thakur – West Zone
All-rounder Shardul Thakur is part of West Zone. He last played for India in July 2025. In his Test career, he has scored 377 runs and taken 33 wickets in 13 Tests.
5. Sarfaraz Khan – West Zone
Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan is also in the West Zone squad, which will be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Sarfaraz has played 6 Tests for India but his last Test for India was back in November 2024.
6. Karun Nair – South Zone
Karun Nair will play for South Zone. He has played 10 Tests for India and scored 579 runs. He is special because he is one of only two Indian batters ever to score a triple century in Test cricket.
7. Prithvi Shaw – West Zone
Prithvi Shaw, who is the youngest Indian to score a century on his Test debut, is also in the West Zone squad. He last played for India in 2021 and now plays domestic cricket for Maharashtra.
8. Anshul Kamboj – North Zone
Haryana-born fast bowler Anshul Kamboj will play for North Zone. He made his Test debut for India last year in 2025 against England in Manchester.
9. Mukesh Kumar – East Zone
Bihar-born Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar is also part of East Zone’s squad for Duleep Trophy 2026. He has played three Tests for India so far. He will share the new ball and partner Mohammed Shami for the Ishan Kishan-led East Zone team.
Do you think their Duleep Trophy’s performance will help them in getting a call from Indian management?
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