The Duleep Trophy 2025, starting August 28th in Bengaluru, will kick off India’s home cricket season. The tournament will feature the classic zonal format, with teams representing different parts of the country. West Zone has announced a strong team, led by Shardul Thakur, which includes key players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Experienced batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are absent, signifying a change in team composition.
The selection of Shardul Thakur as captain instead of Shreyas Iyer has been a topic of discussion. Given Iyer’s experience and stature, many anticipated his leadership. The reason for this decision lies in scheduling conflicts and player availability. With the Asia Cup starting on September 9th, Iyer is likely to be called up for the Indian team. The selectors preferred to avoid appointing a captain who might miss the Duleep Trophy. Therefore, Shardul Thakur, with a greater probability of being available, was chosen.
Interestingly, just before the squad was announced, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shivam Dube indicated their willingness to participate in the Duleep Trophy. Iyer, who last played a Test in February 2024 against England, is eager to regain his place in the Test squad, having played 14 Tests with a century and five half-centuries. Sarfaraz Khan, also part of the England series, shares the same goal of impressing the selectors. Shardul Thakur will lead West Zone, while Iyer’s focus could soon shift to international duties if selected for the Asia Cup.