The East Zone has announced their squad for the 2026 Duleep Trophy, with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan set to lead the side. Young batting talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been rewarded with vice-captaincy after his heroics against Zimbabwe.
The squad also features several experienced players, including Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Shahbaz Ahmed. However, Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has not been included as he is recovering from an injury.
The Duleep Trophy will begin on August 23, with East Zone taking on North East Zone in the opening match. Every game in the tournament will be played at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Kishan heads into the tournament after a strong run in limited-overs cricket for India. He is currently seen as India’s backup wicketkeeper in Test cricket behind Rishabh Pant, and a good performance in the Duleep Trophy could strengthen his case for future opportunities in the longest format.
One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The young batter has been picked to gain valuable experience in red-ball cricket as he continues his development.
Shami included in the squad
Mohammed Shami’s selection has also caught attention. The veteran fast bowler has not played for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy. Although he missed out on the squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, he has continued to perform consistently for Bengal in domestic cricket. The Duleep Trophy now gives him another chance to prove his fitness and push for a return to the national team.
Earlier, West Zone had also announced its squad for the tournament, with Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed as captain.
East Zone squad
Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (capt), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (vice-captain), Virat Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Subranshu Senapati, Abhijit Sarkar, Anukul Roy, Denish Das