Phased out completely: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane left out of Duleep Trophy squad

No official retirements have come to the fore so far, but India's Test team has clearly moved on from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Both senior players, once regarded as the spine of India's batting lineup in the longer format, played their last Test in 2023. Pujara has not featured again since the 2023 WTC Final, while the subsequent West Indies tour marked the end of the road for Rahane. Now, as the domestic setup aims to prepare young Indians for the bigger stage, the senior duo seem to have been phased out of the circuit as well.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane snubbed from West Zone squad for Duleep Trophy

The West Zone squad for the upcoming edition of Duleep Trophy was announced recently. The list failed to mention the names of senior Indian duo, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. The experienced batters, long considered mainstays in India’s Test setup through the 2010s, failed to find a spot in the 15-member chart. The West Zone will be led by all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

This omission, announced by West Zone on Friday, August 1, could mark a decisive end to the hopes of Rahane and Pujara to return to India's red-ball side. Cheteshwar Pujara, who plays for Saurashtra in the domestic circuit is currently serving as a commentator in the India vs England Test series. Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane has shifted his focus to social media, putting his game knowledge into building his YouTube presence. Both had featured in last season’s Ranji Trophy.

The Duleep Trophy, which briefly shifted to a four-team format, has now reverted to its traditional zonal structure. The 2024-25 season had seen teams named India A, B, C, and D compete, with India A finishing as champions after topping the table with 12 points from three matches. Despite that, the experimental format faced criticism and was ultimately scrapped following feedback at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting. In its renewed zonal form, the tournament will now feature six teams, representing Central, East, West, North, South, and North East zones, offering a broader platform for regional talent.

West Zone squad for Duleep Trophy

Shardul Thakur (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Dharmendra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswalla