Ruturaj Gaikwad to Lead West Zone in 2026-27 Duleep Trophy

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed captain of the West Zone team for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, with experienced all-rounder Shams Mulani named vice-captain. The prestigious domestic tournament is scheduled to begin on August 23, marking the start of India's domestic cricket season.

The leadership pair will guide a strong West Zone squad featuring several established domestic stars. According to ESPNcricinfo, the team includes six players from Mumbai, among them all-rounder Shardul Thakur and prolific batter Sarfaraz Khan, both expected to play key roles in the campaign.

One of the notable inclusions is former Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw, who earned selection after a productive maiden Ranji Trophy season with Maharashtra in 2025-26. Shaw scored 537 runs in 11 innings at an impressive average of 48.81. His standout performance came against Chandigarh, where he smashed 222 runs off 156 balls, including the third-fastest century in Ranji Trophy history, helping revive his domestic career.

Meanwhile, promising 19-year-old batter Aayush Mhatre was not considered for selection due to injury concerns. The youngster is recovering from hamstring and wrist injuries that curtailed his IPL 2026 campaign with Chennai Super Kings after just six matches. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and remains unavailable for competitive cricket.

The six-team Duleep Trophy will be held from August 23 to September 10 at the Centre of Excellence facilities in Bengaluru. West Zone will be aiming for a stronger showing after their campaign ended in the semi-finals of the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy, where they were defeated by eventual champions Central Zone.

West Zone Squad:

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.