India’s Test captain Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone in Thrilling 2025-26 Duleep Trophy as the domestic cricket season begins later this month in Bengaluru.
The tournament kicks off on August 28, with the final scheduled between September 11 and 15. North Zone will face East Zone in the opening match at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Gill will guide a strong squad. Seamers Anshul Kamboj and Arshdeep Singh, who recently played in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, are part of the lineup. Fast bowler Harshit Rana, who made his Test debut in last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, will add more power to the pace attack.
However, there’s a chance some key players could miss the tournament. If Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone in Thrilling 2025-26 Duleep Trophy also means Gill, Arshdeep, or Harshit are selected for India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad, they will not be available for the Duleep Trophy. The Asia Cup, running from September 9 to 28, overlaps with the tournament’s later stages.
If this happens, Shubham Rohilla will replace Gill, Gurnoor Brar will step in for Arshdeep, and Anuj Thakral will replace Harshit.
Squad Strength and Key Players
Vice-captain Ankit Kumar had a brilliant 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season for Haryana, scoring 574 runs in 14 innings at an average of almost 59. Haryana’s Nishant Sindhu, a left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, also made the cut for the squad in which Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone in Thrilling 2025-26 Duleep Trophy is the headline attraction.
From Delhi, the team includes Yash Dhull (former India Under-19 World Cup-winning captain), Ayush Badoni, and Harshit Rana. All three are currently competing in the Delhi Premier League T20.
The batting will be anchored by players like Shubham Khajuria from Jammu & Kashmir, set to open the innings, and Ankit Kalsi, a dependable middle-order option. Allrounders Sahil Lotra and Yudhvir Singh Charak provide balance, while Mayank Dagar and Sindhu lead the spin attack. Kanhaiya Wadhawan will be the wicketkeeper.
One highlight of Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone in Thrilling 2025-26 Duleep Trophy is that five players from Jammu & Kashmir are in the squad. Along with Khajuria and Yudhvir, Auqib Nabi stands out after taking 44 wickets in eight matches during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy at a superb average of 13.93. Lotra and Wadhawan complete the J&K group.
Tournament Format and Replacements
The 2025-26 edition marks a return to the traditional zonal format for the Duleep Trophy after an experimental format last year. Previously, four teams – A, B, C, and D – were picked by national selectors and filled with top Test players.
This year, Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone in Thrilling 2025-26 Duleep Trophy will be under the guidance of selectors from the zonal committees. Each zone has one selector from every state association, ensuring in-form domestic players are rewarded with selection.
North Zone’s campaign begins against East Zone on August 28. If they make the final, it will overlap with the Asia Cup group stage, increasing the possibility of replacements being used.
The team’s contingency plans are ready. If Gill, Arshdeep, or Harshit are unavailable, Rohilla, Brar, and Thakral will step up. These players bring solid domestic experience, which keeps Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone in Thrilling 2025-26 Duleep Trophy as competitive as possible.
To further safeguard the squad, several stand-by players have been named, including Ravi Chauhan from Services and Nishunk Birla from Chandigarh. Others on the standby list are Shubham Arora, Jaskaranvir Singh Paul, Abid Mushtaq, Umar Nazir, and Divesh Sharma.
This approach shows that Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone in Thrilling 2025-26 Duleep Trophy is more than just a leadership role, it’s also about building a deep and adaptable squad for success.
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