Ruturaj Gaikwad to Lead West Zone in 2026-27 Duleep Trophy

Leadership Announcement for Duleep Trophy

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the captain of the West Zone team for the upcoming 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, set to commence on August 23. Shams Mulani, an experienced left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, will serve as the vice-captain. Together, they will lead a talented West Zone squad aiming for a strong start to the domestic season, according to reports.

Mumbai Players Highlighted in the Squad

The West Zone team features six players from Mumbai, including all-rounder Shardul Thakur and batter Sarfaraz Khan. Notably, former Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw has secured a place in the squad following a remarkable debut Ranji Trophy season with Maharashtra in 2025-26. Shaw scored a total of 537 runs across 11 innings, averaging 48.81, with a standout performance of 222 runs off 156 balls against Chandigarh, which included the third-fastest century in Ranji Trophy history.

Injury Update: Aayush Mhatre

Nineteen-year-old Mumbai batter Aayush Mhatre has been ruled out of selection as he is still recovering from hamstring and wrist injuries that limited his participation in the IPL 2026 season with Chennai Super Kings to just six matches. Mhatre is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and will not be available for the tournament.

Duleep Trophy Competition Details

The six-team Duleep Trophy competition is scheduled to take place from August 23 to September 10 at the Centre of Excellence facilities. In the previous season, West Zone reached the semi-finals but were defeated by the eventual champions, Central Zone.

Complete West Zone Squad

The West Zone squad includes: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Shams Mulani (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Tanush Kotian, Harvik Desai (wicketkeeper), Jaymeet Patel, Urvil Patel, Siddharth Desai, Atit Sheth, Prithvi Shaw, Shivalik Sharma, and Mukesh Choudhary.