Team India all -rounder Shardul Thakur has been named the captain of the West Zone Squad for the upcoming Dalip Trophy 2025, as confirmed by the Zonal Selection Committee on Friday, August 1. However, veteran Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been released out of the squad.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane last played a Test match for India in 2023. Pujara played an important role in India’s Test series win in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. In particular, Rahane made Team India a cotton to win a memorable border-gavaskar trophy in 2020-21, as many major players were unavailable.
Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara ignored the West Zone Squad for the Dalip Trophy
Sharadul Thakur has been named the captain of the West Zone Squad for the upcoming Dalip Trophy, which begins in Bengaluru from 28 August. The selectors opted for Thakur’s leadership despite the presence of senior names like Yashsvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan and Ruturaj Gikwad.
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The decision not to appoint Iyer as Captain was based on the possibility of his selection for the Asia Cup squad, which begins on 9 September. Thakur has played an important role in Mumbai’s recent Ranji Trophy campaigns, especially with a low order contribution.
All -rounders will join the squad by Mumbai players Tanush Kotion, Shams Mulani and Pesar Tushar Deshpande.
Shreyas Iyer set for convenience as player for West Zone
Shreyas Iyer made himself available for the upcoming Dilip Trophy. The middle-order batsman has played 14 Test matches for India. However, he has not been part of the test setup since February 2024, when he was last against England.
Iyer was an important person in India’s Champions Trophy winning campaign in Dubai earlier this year. He scored 480 runs in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy at an average of 68.57, including two centuries. He continued his form in the IPL, where he took Punjab Kings to his first final in more than a decade.
PBK abolished the runner-up for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), scoring 604 runs in 17 matches, including six fifty in average 50.33. However, the selectors opted not to choose Iyer for the England series, rather than rewarding Karun Nair for his strong domestic form.
West Zone Squad 2025 for Dalip Trophy:
Shardul Thakur (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aryya Desai, Harvik Desai (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gikwad, Jayamit Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Navale (WK), Shams Mulani, Dhamani, Dhamani Arjan Nagwaswas.
The 2025-26 Indian domestic cricket season is set to start with the Dalip Trophy. This year, the Dalip Trophy returns to its traditional zonal format, with teams selected by state selectors from their respective areas. Defending champions South Zone from 2023-24 edition will see to maintain their title.
The Ranji Trophy will start from October 15, 2025. In particular, the tournament will be played in two phases. Phase 1 will run till 19 November, and the elite phase is scheduled from 22 January to 1 February 2026.
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