Ishan Kishan Named Captain of East Zone for 2025 Duleep Trophy; Mohammed Shami Returns to Squad
Abhimanyu Easwaran, the seasoned Bengal opener now part of India’s Test setup in England, has been appointed as vice‑captain. Easwaran brings stability and international exposure to the top order.
The East Zone squad blends experience with emerging talents, featuring Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, and Suraj Jaiswal in the pace attack. All these players have not only performed superbly in domestic cricket but also earned national recognition in recent seasons. The inclusion of Shami, returning from a nine‑month absence in red‑ball cricket, is particularly notable.
Shami’s comeback marks a significant moment in the veteran pacer’s career. Having last played first-class Ranji Trophy in November 2024, and with his most recent Test appearance coming during the World Test Championship final in June 2023, his return brings seasoned leadership and wicket-taking prowess to the attack.
Among the squad’s batting assets is Riyan Parag, the Assam all‑rounder whose recent performances have turned heads. Jharkhand prodigies Virat Singh and Sharandeep Singh, alongside wicketkeeper‑batter Kumar Kushagra, also showcase young talent making a mark in the regional first-class circuit.
The 15-member squad is as follows:
- Ishan Kishan (c)
- Abhimanyu Easwaran (vc)
- Sandeep Pattnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Riyan Parag, Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Shami.
Six standbys have also been named, among them teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who gained attention during India U‑19’s recent tour of England with a record-breaking youth ODI century. Despite his standout performances, he missed selection in the main squad and has been placed in the standby list along with Mukhtar Hussain, Aasirwad Swain, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kumar Gharami, and Rahul Singh.
The squad selection, managed by a six-member zonal committee representing Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, and Tripura and convened in Ranchi, reflects an emphasis on domestic consistency and selected experience over raw potential.
East Zone’s campaign opens with a quarter‑final fixture against North Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru, with the winner proceeding to face South Zone in the semifinal. The tournament is scheduled to run until September 15, offering players a high‑stakes platform to stake their claim in India's future long‑format plans.
Ishan Kishan’s leadership appointment signals a chance for the dynamic wicketkeeper‑batter to reignite his domestic red-ball credentials following an unfortunate injury layoff earlier in the year. His captaincy, backed by the likes of Shami and Easwaran, positions East Zone as a serious contender in the return of the zonal Duleep Trophy format.