Shubman Gill Named Captain of North Zone for Duleep Trophy

Shubman Gill has been appointed as the captain of the North Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, set to commence on August 28, 2023. This announcement follows the young Indian Test skipper’s impressive performance during a challenging five-match series against England, which concluded in a dramatic 2-2 draw.

A Stellar Performance in England

The 24-year-old opener emerged as a key figure during the England tour, scoring a remarkable 754 runs across the series. This achievement ranks as the second-highest total by an Indian in a single Test series, trailing only Sunil Gavaskar’s historic 774 runs during the 1971 tour of the West Indies. Gill’s leadership and batting prowess played a significant role in securing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy for India.

His ascension to the role of Test captain follows the retirements of prominent players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Gill’s appointment as captain of the North Zone marks a swift return to domestic cricket, just weeks after the taxing tour, which wrapped up on August 4, 2023.

Upcoming Matches and Team Composition

The North Zone will face East Zone in their opening match of the Duleep Trophy on August 28. The tournament will conclude with the final scheduled for September 11, which overlaps with India’s participation in the Asia Cup, kicking off on September 10 in the UAE.

Gill leads a robust 15-member squad featuring notable names such as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Anshul Kamboj, who made his Test debut in the fourth match against England. Although part of the squad, Arshdeep did not appear in the playing XI during the series.

In the event that Gill or teammates Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are selected for the national squad for the Asia Cup or concurrent series, the selectors have named Shubman Rohilla, Gurnoor Brar, and Anul Thakral as backups. This strategic depth in the squad highlights the selectors’ commitment to maintaining a competitive edge.

The Duleep Trophy marks the start of the 2025-26 Indian domestic season, returning to its traditional zonal format. As the cricketing landscape evolves, fans and analysts alike will be keenly watching Gill’s leadership in both domestic and international arenas.

With anticipation building, the North Zone squad is poised to showcase their skills and resilience in the Duleep Trophy, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.