Shubman Gill to Captain North Zone in Duleep Trophy After Stellar England Tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Indian Test captain Shubman Gill will helm the North Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, commencing August 28, 2025. The 24-year-old opener, who recently led a young Indian side to a commendable 2-2 draw in a challenging five-Test series against England, earned the captaincy following an exceptional performance that solidified his reputation as a rising star in Indian cricket.

Gill’s leadership and batting prowess were on full display during the England tour, which concluded on August 4, 2025. Amassing 754 runs, he recorded the second-highest run tally by an Indian in a single Test series, trailing only Sunil Gavaskar’s 774 runs in the 1971 West Indies tour. His stellar contribution was instrumental in securing the draw for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, marking a significant achievement for the team following the retirements of cricketing stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Duleep Trophy, marking the start of India’s 2025-26 domestic season, will see North Zone face East Zone in their opening match on August 28, with the final scheduled for September 11. However, Gill’s participation may be affected by India’s Asia Cup campaign, which begins on September 10 in the UAE with a match against the hosts, followed by a high-profile clash against Pakistan on September 14. To account for potential national team commitments, the selectors have named Shubham Rohilla (SSCB), Gurnoor Brar, and Anul Thakral as backup players for Gill, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana.

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Gill will lead a formidable 15-member North Zone squad, featuring notable players like Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Anshul Kamboj, the latter having made his Test debut in the fourth Test against England. Other key members include Ankit Kumar (vice-captain), Shubham Khajuria, Ayush Badoni, Yash Dhull, and wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan. While Arshdeep was part of the England tour squad, he did not feature in the playing XI.

The return of the Duleep Trophy to its traditional zonal format underscores its significance as a platform for domestic talent to shine. With Gill at the helm, North Zone aims to leverage his leadership and form to make a strong start to the season, even as his potential Asia Cup commitments loom large.

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