Shubman Gill Leads North Zone in Duleep Trophy
After scoring a monumental 754 runs in the Test series against England, Shubman Gill has chosen to lead North Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy. Just weeks after the series concluded, India’s Test captain has made a strong statement by committing to domestic cricket.
BCCI Prioritizes Domestic Cricket Over White-Ball Tours
The BCCI postponed India white-ball tour to Sri Lanka, creating space for top players to return to domestic action. This strategic decision has enabled key players like Gill to participate in tournaments like the Duleep Trophy.
By skipping the white-ball series, the BCCI signaled its intent to reinvest in the domestic structure, especially with the Bangladesh tour also pushed to next year.
Sunil Gavaskar Applauds Gill’s Commitment
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar praised Gill’s decision in his column for Sportstar.
“Shubman Gill, captaining the North Zone team, is a massive shot in the arm for this tournament,” Gavaskar wrote. “By being available, the Indian skipper is sending the right signal to the other members of the team.”
Gavaskar also appreciated the BCCI’s focus on domestic cricket over less-urgent international fixtures:
“The BCCI resisted pressure to send a team to Sri Lanka this month. By doing that, they’ve prioritized domestic cricket.”
He added that Gill could have easily chosen rest after the exhausting England tour but instead chose to contribute to Indian cricket’s grassroots.
Gill’s Stunning Test Series Against England
Gill finished the five-match England Test series with a staggering 754 runs, the second-highest tally ever by an Indian in a single series—just behind Gavaskar’s 774 runs in the West Indies in 1971.
More importantly, Gill’s runs came in a 2-2 series draw, where he stepped up as captain following the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran. Ashwin from red-ball cricket.
North Zone’s Strong Squad for the Duleep Trophy
Gill will lead a balanced North Zone team with a mix of young talent and experienced names:
- Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Anshul Kamboj (who debuted in the Old Trafford Test) strengthen the bowling lineup.
- Jammu & Kashmir contribute five players, including opener Shubham Khajuria and seamer Auqib Nabi, who took 44 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy at an average of 13.93.
- Ankit Kumar, Haryana’s top run-scorer last season, has been appointed vice-captain.
- Delhi’s Yash Dhull, Ayush Badoni, and Harshit Rana bring U-19 and IPL experience.
Duleep Trophy Kicks Off India’s 2025–26 Domestic Season
The Duleep Trophy returns to its traditional zonal format, emphasizing regional pride and competition. This tournament marks the start of India’s 2025–26 domestic cricket calendar.
Gill’s participation as captain reinforces a key message: India’s cricketing future must be built not just on international victories, but on a strong and thriving domestic foundation.
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