Ruturaj Gaikwad has received a major leadership role ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season after West Zone announced its squad for the Duleep Trophy. The selection committee confirmed the appointment on Monday.
The squad features several experienced domestic cricketers across batting, bowling, and all-round departments. West Zone will begin its campaign later next month in Bengaluru.
The announcement also highlights the team’s schedule, full squad, Gaikwad’s recent Duleep Trophy performance, and key details about the upcoming tournament.
Ruturaj Gaikwad named West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy 2026
West Zone has appointed Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy. Experienced left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Shams Mulani will serve as the team’s vice-captain.
The West Zone selection committee announced the 15-member squad on Monday after its meeting ahead of the tournament.
Along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, the selectors included several established domestic players, including Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, and Tushar Deshpande.
Why was Ruturaj Gaikwad named West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy 2026?
Ruturaj Gaikwad earned the West Zone captaincy because he brings proven leadership experience and consistent domestic performances. The selection committee also wanted a long-term captain to lead one of the strongest squads in the tournament.
Moreover, Gaikwad already leads Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and recently served as India A vice-captain during the Sri Lanka A tour.
Those leadership roles strengthened his credentials and made him a natural choice for the position.
Gaikwad has remained one of the most reliable batters in domestic cricket, averaging 82 across the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
As a result, the selectors passed the captaincy baton from Shardul Thakur while retaining the experienced all-rounder as an important member of the West Zone squad.
West Zone schedule and squad for Duleep Trophy 2026
Here is West Zone’s complete Duleep Trophy 2026 schedule, along with the full 15-member squad selected for the upcoming campaign.
Match Schedule
| Date | Match | Time (IST / GMT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 23, 2026 | North Zone vs West Zone (Quarter-final 2) | 9:30 AM IST / 4:00 AM GMT | BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru |
West Zone Squad
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain)
- Shams Mulani (Vice-Captain)
- Harvik Desai (WK)
- Urvil Patel (WK)
- Jaymeet Patel
- Prithvi Shaw
- Shivalik Sharma
- Siddharth Desai
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Musheer Khan
- Atit Sheth
- Mukesh Chaudhary
- Tanush Kotian
- Shardul Thakur
- Tushar Deshpande
Reserve players: Jay Gohil, Aarya Desai, Arshin Kulkarni, Mahesh Pithiya, Vishal Jayswal, and Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Duleep Trophy 2025 performance
Ruturaj Gaikwad enjoyed an impressive outing during the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone. Returning after recovering from an elbow injury, he scored 200 runs across two innings at an average of 100.00.
His campaign included a superb 184 in the first innings, helping West Zone recover from a difficult position. The knock marked his successful return to competitive cricket.
Take a look at some more performance stats of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 2025 Duleep Trophy:
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Matches | 1 |
| Innings | 2 |
| Total Runs | 200 |
| Highest Score | 184 |
| Batting Average | 100.00 |
| Strike Rate | 87.34 |
| Boundaries | 25 Fours, 3 Sixes |
Duleep Trophy 2026: A short overview
The 2026 Duleep Trophy will begin on August 23 and conclude with the final on September 10. All matches will take place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
The tournament returns to its traditional zonal format. Six teams—North, South, East, West, Central, and North East Zones—will compete in a knockout structure featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
Each zone has selected its squad through the respective selection committees. The competition traditionally marks the beginning of India’s domestic cricket season and offers players an opportunity to impress ahead of the new campaign.
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Conclusion
Ruturaj Gaikwad enters the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy with another leadership responsibility after taking charge of West Zone. His recent domestic form and captaincy experience make him a key figure for the side.
West Zone also boasts several established performers across departments. The opening quarter-final against North Zone will provide the first test for Gaikwad and his squad as they begin their pursuit of the Duleep Trophy title.
