The Duleep Trophy 2026, one of the most prestigious tournaments in Indian domestic cricket, is set to begin on August 23. Ahead of the upcoming season, the East Zone squad has been announced, featuring an excellent blend of experienced players and young talent.
This time, star wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will lead the East Zone team. At the same time, 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has been making waves with his batting at both the IPL and international levels, has been entrusted with the significant responsibility of vice-captaincy.
East Zone Leadership: Ishan & Vaibhav
- Captain (Ishan Kishan): Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will lead the East Zone team. The team will have high expectations regarding his leadership and aggressive batting style.
- Vice-Captain (Vaibhav Suryavanshi): Appointing ‘wonder boy’ Vaibhav Suryavanshi as vice-captain at the age of just 15 is one of the most significant decisions in domestic cricket. Vaibhav has recently grabbed everyone’s attention with his aggressive batting in the IPL and junior international cricket.
First Match: East Zone will face North Zone in their opening match of the Duleep Trophy. All matches of the tournament are expected to be played at the BCCI’s Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Pace Attack: Shami & Mukesh Lead
This team, captained by Ishan Kishan, includes senior bowlers who have played Test cricket for India:
- Mohammed Shami: Shami, the Indian team’s experienced fast bowler, will lead the East Zone pace attack.
- Mukesh Kumar: Star bowler Mukesh Kumar is also part of the squad to partner Shami.
- Suraj Jaiswal: Suraj has been included to further strengthen the fast-bowling department.
Injury Updates: Riyan & Akash Miss Out
Two key players Riyan Parag and Akash Deep have not made it to the East Zone squad this time. Both players have recently undergone surgery and are currently completing their rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Openers & All-Rounders Setup
- Opening Pair: Vaibhav Suryavanshi could be seen opening alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, the most experienced player in the squad, who has played 113 first-class matches for East Zone.
- Backup Opener: Shikhar Mohan, who was the highest run-scorer for Jharkhand in the previous Ranji Trophy season with 613 runs, will serve as the team’s second reserve opener.
- All-Rounders: Proven all-rounders like Shahbaz Ahmed and Anukul Roy will provide strength and balance to the team.
East Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2026
Ishan Kishan (Captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Vice-Captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Jaiswal, Virat Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Subhranshu Senapati, Abhijit Sarkar, Anukul Roy, Danish Das.
Can East Zone Win the Title?
With Ishan Kishan’s leadership, Mohammed Shami’s experience, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive form, East Zone appears to be a very strong contender this time around. It will be interesting to see how the team performs in the tournament, which begins on August 23.
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