The 2025-26 Indian domestic cricket season begins tomorrow in Bengaluru with the Duleep Trophy, which returns to its traditional zonal format this year. The tournament, running from August 28 to September 15, is set to be a high-stakes audition for a host of Indian stars and fringe players, all vying for selection in the Test squad ahead of the home series against the West Indies and South Africa.
The tournament will feature the much-anticipated return of veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami. After a long layoff due to a knee injury, all eyes will be on how his body copes with the demands of red-ball cricket. He'll be joined by other players on the comeback trail, including stylish batsman Devdutt Padikkal, who is returning to action after a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL.
For several players on the periphery of the national team, the Duleep Trophy is a massive opportunity to make a statement. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was on the bench during the recent Test series in England, will be keen to impress, as will spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Young pacer Anshul Kamboj will also be under the scanner, eager to bounce back after a difficult Test debut in Manchester.
With questions looming over the No. 3 and No. 6 positions in India's Test lineup, the competition among batsmen will be fierce. The tournament is a critical platform for former Test players Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan to score heavily and reclaim their spots. They will face stiff competition from other hopefuls like Dhruv Jurel and Rajat Patidar, who are also looking to make their case to the selectors.
The six-team tournament will see West Zone (featuring Iyer and Sarfaraz) and defending champions South Zone (with Padikkal) enter directly at the semi-final stage on September 4. The opening round, starting this Friday, will feature intriguing clashes, including North Zone vs. East Zone, where the performances of Shami and Arshdeep will be closely watched.
While India's Test captain, Shubman Gill, was initially set to lead North Zone, his participation is now in doubt after he was sidelined with a viral fever. His absence, however, doesn't diminish the tournament's importance. With the BCCI now making it mandatory for available star players to participate in domestic cricket, the Duleep Trophy has regained its prestige as a premier red-ball competition and a true trial for a place in the Indian team.