Shardul Thakur Appointed Captain for West Zone in Duleep Trophy

Shardul Thakur Takes Charge as West Zone Captain

Currently, during the final Test match between India and England at The Oval, Shardul Thakur has been released from the team. Following this, he has been appointed as the captain of the West Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. This decision was made by the zonal selection committee on Friday.

The selection committee clarified that Shreyas Iyer was not chosen as captain for the West Zone team due to his potential selection for the Asia Cup. The Asia Cup is set to commence on September 9, while the Duleep Trophy will kick off on August 28 in Bengaluru.

In recent years, Shardul Thakur has played a crucial role in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaigns, contributing significantly with both bat and ball during challenging situations.

Notably, in the last two seasons, when runs from the lower order were essential, Thakur collaborated effectively with Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani, both of whom are also part of the West Zone team. Fast bowler Tushar Deshpande has also been included in the squad.

It is important to note that the 2025-26 domestic season for the Duleep Trophy will commence on August 28. The senior women's inter-zonal multi-day trophy will conclude on April 3, 2026. The Ranji Trophy season 15 is scheduled to start on October 15, with the first phase running until November 19, and the second phase from January 22 to February 1, 2026.