North Zone and North East Zone announce Duleep Trophy squads
North Zone Squad Selections
The North Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy has been announced, featuring prominent players such as Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm seamer, and Kanhaiya Wadhawan, who will captain the 15-member side. Arshdeep Singh, known as a white-ball specialist for Team India, was previously included in the Test squad during the 2025 tour of England. However, he did not make his red-ball debut at that time due to injury and combination issues.
Wadhawan, a wicketkeeper-batter from Jammu and Kashmir, leads a squad that includes six players from the Ranji Trophy-winning Jammu and Kashmir team. These selections follow Jammu and Kashmir’s historic triumph in the Ranji Trophy. The players from the champion side, in addition to Wadhawan, are opener Qamran Iqbal, all-rounder Abdul Samad, left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, pacer Sunil Kumar, and fast bowler Yudhvir Singh.
Other notable inclusions in the North Zone squad are Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj, who was also part of the Test team previously, and promising talents like Yash Dhull and Ayush Badoni. Badoni, from Delhi, has been named vice-captain. Delhi has the second-highest representation in the squad after Jammu and Kashmir, with opener Sanat Sangwan, former skipper Yash Dhull, and middle-order batter Ayush Doseja also making the cut. India A regular Nishant Sindhu, Abid Mushtaq, and Arjun Sharma will provide spin and all-round options for the team.
The Duleep Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on August 23, serves as a significant platform for players to establish themselves at the national level. Veteran Jammu and Kashmir skipper Paras Dogra, aged 41, was not considered for the tournament, as the Duleep Trophy focuses on players aiming to make a mark nationally. Pacer Auqib Nabi will not be available for the North Zone squad due to national duty.
North East Zone Selections
In parallel, the North East Zone has also announced its squad for the Duleep Trophy 2026–27, which will be held in Bengaluru from August 23 to September 10. This tournament is recognized as one of India’s premier domestic first-class cricket competitions. Three cricketers from Nagaland have been selected to represent the North East Zone, marking a notable achievement for the state’s cricketing community.
The players selected from Nagaland are Jonathan Rongsen, Imliwati Lemtur, and Vino G. Zhimomi. Additionally, Hem Bahadur Chetri has been named as a standby player for the North East Zone squad. The Nagaland Cricket Association also confirmed the appointment of Mowalong Kichu as the physiotherapist for the North East Zone team.
The inclusion of three players and a support staff member from Nagaland is viewed as a substantial boost for cricket development in the state. This selection reflects the increasing talent emerging from the Northeast region, highlighting its growing presence in the national cricketing landscape. The Duleep Trophy provides these players with a crucial opportunity to showcase their skills on a broader stage.
The full North Zone squad includes Kanhaiya Wadhawan (Captain), Ayush Badoni (Vice-Captain), Sanat Sangwan, Qamran Iqbal, Yash Dhull, Ayush Doseja, Abdul Samad, Nishant Sindhu, Arjun Sharma, Abid Mushtaq, Arshdeep Singh, Sunil Kumar, Anshul Kamboj, Yudhvir Singh, and Nikhil Kashyap.
Source: m.rediff.com
