Shardul Thakur Named West Zone Captain; Rahane & Pujara Snubbed in Duleep Trophy Squad
In a bold decision by West Zone selectors, all‑rounder Shardul Thakur will lead the West Zone side for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025–26. Senior Test batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have been surprisingly left out, signaling a potential transition away from veteran red-ball careers.
Shardul Thakur Appointed Captain
The 33-year-old Mumbai all-rounder has been handed leadership duties for West Zone in the upcoming zonal-format Duleep Trophy, starting on August 28 at Bengaluru’s CoE ground. Thakur led Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but will captain in first-class cricket for the first time.
Rahane & Pujara Excluded
Selection committee shockingly dropped Test veterans Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara from the roster—virtually signaling the end of their prospects in red‑ball contention. Their omissions have sparked debate given their illustrious domestic records and international experience.
Star‑Studded Squad Overview
The 15-member squad includes multiple Mumbai and Gujarat players:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad—all strong Test‑bench candidates
- Support cast features Harvik Desai (wk), Manan Hingrajia, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswala and more
With seven Mumbai players making the cut and Ruturaj Gaikwad being the lone Maharashtra entry, selectors appear to favour emerging youth over senior experience. Ravindra Jadeja has been rested for the tournament.
Duleep Trophy: Format & Context
This edition reverts to the traditional six-zone format—West Zone is seeded directly into semifinals as defending-champions from the 2023–24 season. The tournament opens the 2025–26 domestic season and features selectors picking squads at the state zone level.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shardul Thakur |
| Senior Exclusions | Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara omitted |
| Key Inclusions | Jaiswal, Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| Rested Players | Ravindra Jadeja |
| Format | Zonal format; West Zone seeded into semis |
| Tournament Start | August 28 at Bengaluru |
FAQs
Who is the West Zone captain for the Duleep Trophy 2025?
Shardul Thakur has been named captain of West Zone for the upcoming Duleep Trophy.
Which senior players were left out of the squad?
Veteran batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were surprisingly excluded from the 15-man West Zone squad.
Which key players made the squad?
The team features promising stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad among others.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information compiled from online sources. Please verify independently before making any decisions based on it.
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