West Zone have unveiled their squad for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, with Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed as captain for the prestigious domestic tournament. The experienced Maharashtra batter will lead a talented group packed with established performers and exciting prospects as the team aims to reclaim the title. Mumbai all-rounder Shams Mulani has been named vice-captain, while several familiar names from India’s domestic circuit have also secured places in the squad.
The Duleep Trophy will mark the beginning of the 2026-27 Indian domestic season, with the tournament scheduled to commence on August 23 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Experienced core forms the backbone of the squad
West Zone’s selection committee has opted for a balanced squad featuring a blend of experience and youth. Alongside Gaikwad and Mulani, the team includes Mumbai’s reliable performers such as Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian, all of whom have consistently impressed in domestic cricket over recent seasons.
Gaikwad’s appointment as captain comes after another important leadership role in Indian cricket. The 29-year-old recently served as vice-captain under Tilak Varma during the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka and continues to captain Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. His growing leadership experience made him a natural choice to guide the West Zone side.
The squad also features wicketkeeper Harvik Desai, batters Jaymeet Patel and Urvil Patel, along with all-rounders Atit Sheth and Shivalik Sharma. Left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai and pacer Mukesh Choudhary further strengthen the bowling department, giving the team multiple options across conditions.
Prithvi Shaw earns recall as Ayush Mhatre misses out
One of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement is the inclusion of Prithvi Shaw. After switching from Mumbai to Maharashtra ahead of last season, Shaw has earned a place in the West Zone squad following an inconsistent few years in domestic and franchise cricket. The right-handed opener was first selected for the Duleep Trophy as a 17-year-old prodigy in 2017, but his career has witnessed several highs and lows since then. He was overlooked for last season’s West Zone squad and has not featured in an IPL match since the 2024 edition.
The upcoming tournament now presents Shaw with an ideal platform to rebuild momentum and make a strong statement at the start of the domestic campaign. A productive showing in the Duleep Trophy could significantly boost his prospects for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, young Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre has been left out after missing the latter stages of IPL 2026 due to injury. The 19-year-old was unable to recover in time to earn a place in the squad.
West Zone will also be eager to improve on last year’s performance. They were knocked out in the semi-finals by Central Zone, who progressed on the basis of a first-innings lead before eventually lifting the championship.
West Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2026-27
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Shams Mulani (Vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Tanush Kotian, Harvik Desai (wk), Jaymeet Patel, Urvil Patel, Siddharth Desai, Atit Sheth, Prithvi Shaw, Shivalik Sharma and Mukesh Choudhary
