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Shardul Thakur to Lead Star-Studded West Zone Squad in Duleep Trophy 2025; Rahane and Pujara Omitted
Mumbai’s Core Strengthens West Zone for Duleep Trophy 2025
In a notable development ahead of the 2025 Duleep Trophy, the West Zone Selection Committee has appointed Shardul Thakur as the captain of a strong 15-member squad. The selection was finalized during a meeting held at the Sharad Pawar Indoor Cricket Academy in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) on Friday, August 1.
The team boasts a powerful Mumbai presence with as many as seven players, including international stars Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, and Sarfaraz Khan. Gujarat contributes four players, while Maharashtra and Saurashtra each have two representatives in the main squad.
Rahane and Pujara’s Exclusion Raises Eyebrows
In a surprising twist, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, two of India’s most experienced Test cricketers, have not been included in the squad. Their omission signals a shift toward younger talent and perhaps the committee’s vision for building future-ready teams.
Full Squad Breakdown
The West Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy comprises a balanced mix of experience and emerging domestic stars. Here’s the full 15-member squad:
Shardul Thakur (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Nawale, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Dharmendra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswala.
Young Talent Gets the Spotlight
Standby Players Announced
To ensure depth in case of injuries or withdrawals, the selection panel—led by Sanjay Patil of the Mumbai Cricket Association—has also named seven standby players:
Mahesh Pithiya, Shivalik Sharma, Mukesh Chaudhary, Siddharth Desai, Chintan Gaja, Musheer Khan, and Urvil Patel.
Among them, Musheer Khan, the younger brother of Sarfaraz Khan, continues to rise rapidly in India’s domestic circuit and could be a future asset for the senior team.
➡️ Related Reading: India’s Rising Domestic Stars to Watch This Season
Tournament Schedule and Format
The 2025 edition of the Duleep Trophy begins on August 28 with two quarterfinals. The West Zone, due to their previous strong performances, have earned a direct entry into the semifinal, scheduled for September 4. The final match will be played between September 11–14.
All matches are set to take place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, a venue that has recently hosted several key domestic and developmental matches.
A Test for West Zone’s Depth
With multiple players on the fringe of national selection, the Duleep Trophy presents an opportunity for names like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, and Sarfaraz Khan to make a strong case for a spot in upcoming international series. For others, such as Harvik Desai and Manan Hingrajia, this is a golden chance to leave a mark on selectors.
What Does This Mean for India’s Domestic Landscape?
The absence of Rahane and Pujara might indicate that selectors are looking beyond veterans for red-ball competitions. This shift may also impact India’s longer format future as younger players are groomed in competitive domestic platforms like the Duleep Trophy.
For more details on the tournament and the official fixture schedule, visit the BCCI’s official website.
