Mohammed Shami Returns to Red-Ball Cricket, Named in East Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy

Mohammed Shami Returns to Red-Ball Cricket, Named in East Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy

Veteran India fast bowler Mohammed Shami is set to return to red-ball cricket, having been named in the East Zone squad for the 2025–26 Duleep Trophy. The 34-year-old, who last played a first-class match in November 2024 for Bengal, will headline a strong pace attack alongside Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep.

Ishan Kishan has been appointed captain of the 15-man squad. Kishan has been in good form recently, scoring two half-centuries for Nottinghamshire in the ongoing County Championship Division One. Abhimanyu Easwaran, currently part of India's Test squad in England, will serve as vice-captain.

The squad also features allrounder Riyan Parag, top-order batter Virat Singh, and left-arm spinner Manishi, who claimed 22 wickets in the previous Ranji Trophy season. Sharandeep Singh, Jharkhand’s second-highest run-scorer last season, has also been included.

Notably absent from the squad is Sudip Chatterjee, Bengal’s leading run-scorer in the last Ranji Trophy season. His state-mate Sudip Kumar Gharami, the second-highest run-getter, has been named among the six standbys.

In a surprising inclusion, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi—who recently made headlines by hitting the fastest century in youth ODIs on India Under-19’s England tour—has been named among the standbys as well.

The Duleep Trophy, which returns to a zonal format this season after last year's India A, B, C, D setup, will mark the beginning of the 2025–26 domestic season. East Zone will take on North Zone in the tournament opener starting August 28 at the Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru.

East Zone Squad – Duleep Trophy 2025–26

  • Ishan Kishan (captain)

  • Abhimanyu Easwaran (vice-captain)

  • Sandeep Patnaik

  • Virat Singh

  • Denish Das

  • Sridam Paul

  • Sharandeep Singh

  • Kumar Kushagra

  • Riyan Parag

  • Utkarsh Singh

  • Manishi

  • Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal

  • Mukesh Kumar

  • Akash Deep

  • Mohammed Shami

Standbys: Mukhtar Hussain, Aasirwad Swain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Rahul Singh

Key Highlights

  • Shami’s first-class return after almost a year

  • Kishan to lead, Easwaran vice-captain

  • Parag, Akash Deep, and Mukesh bolster squad

  • Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, named among standbys

  • East Zone to play North Zone from August 28 in Bengaluru

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