Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has been named in the East Zone squad for the upcoming 2025–26 Duleep Trophy, marking his return to first-class cricket after a gap. The experienced seamer headlines a squad captained by Ishan Kishan, with Abhimanyu Easwaran appointed as vice-captain. Rising talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has been making waves in youth cricket, has been placed on the standby list.
The 15-member squad reflects a deliberate mix of proven performers and emerging talent. Alongside Shami, the pace attack will feature Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, ensuring a formidable seam-bowling unit. Assam all-rounder Riyan Parag adds balance to the lineup, while Kishan’s leadership is bolstered by the presence of Easwaran’s steady hand at the top order.
Shami’s inclusion is significant not just for East Zone but for Indian domestic cricket as a whole. His last first-class outing came in late 2024 during the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, and his selection suggests a push to maintain match fitness in the longer format ahead of India’s packed Test calendar. Known for his ability to extract reverse swing and deliver breakthroughs in crucial moments, his experience will be pivotal for the East Zone campaign.
The selection of Ishan Kishan as captain highlights the selectors’ confidence in his leadership. Having recently impressed in overseas county stints, Kishan brings both tactical sharpness and batting firepower. Abhimanyu Easwaran’s presence as vice-captain offers stability, especially in high-pressure matches.
On the other side of the spectrum, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s placement as a standby has drawn attention. Despite his explosive performances in youth internationals, including a record-breaking hundred for India U‑19, the selectors have chosen to keep him as backup for now, emphasizing the need to ease him into senior competition. Other standbys include Odisha’s promising talents such as Aasirwad Swain and Sudip Kumar Gharami, providing depth in case of injuries.
The Duleep Trophy, scheduled to run from late August to mid-September, will once again serve as the curtain-raiser for India’s domestic season. East Zone will open their campaign against North Zone in what promises to be a highly competitive clash. For Shami, it will be a chance to reaffirm his value in the longer format, while for Kishan, the tournament presents an opportunity to cement his credentials as a leader in red-ball cricket.
Strategically, East Zone’s squad shows a preference for experience in key roles while leaving space for young players to step in when needed. With Shami spearheading the pace attack and Kishan leading from the front, the team has the ingredients to mount a strong challenge. The mix of seniority and youth could prove decisive as the tournament unfolds.
For Shami, this selection is more than just another domestic assignment—it’s a statement of intent. As the veteran gears up to share the dressing room with younger talents under Kishan’s leadership, the East Zone squad embodies both continuity and transition, setting the stage for a compelling Duleep Trophy campaign.