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Arshdeep Singh Returns to Red-Ball Cricket After a Year: Named in North Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy

Posted on 4th Aug 2026 10:36 am by rohit kumar

India pacer Arshdeep Singh is set to make his return to red-ball cricket after nearly a year after being named in the North Zone squad for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy. Arshdeep last featured in a red-ball match during the Duleep Trophy last year.

 

The 15-member North Zone squad will be led by Jammu & Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan, while Delhi all-rounder Ayush Badoni has been appointed vice-captain.

 

North Zone will begin its campaign against West Zone on August 23 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

 

Arshdeep Singh Returns to Red-Ball Cricket

 

Arshdeep's inclusion is one of the biggest talking points in the North Zone squad. The left-arm pacer has been primarily associated with India's limited-overs setup, making his return to first-class cricket particularly significant.

 

He will lead a pace attack that also includes Yudhvir Singh, Sunil Kumar and Haryana's Anshul Kamboj.

 

The Duleep Trophy will provide Arshdeep with an opportunity to regain his red-ball rhythm and strengthen his credentials for India's Test setup.

 

Kanhaiya Wadhawan to Lead North Zone

 

Jammu & Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan has been handed the captaincy for the upcoming tournament.

 

Wadhawan scored 474 runs at an average of 36.46 across 13 innings during the previous Ranji Trophy season.

 

Ayush Badoni, meanwhile, will serve as vice-captain.

 

Six Jammu & Kashmir Players Selected

 

Jammu & Kashmir have received strong representation in the North Zone squad, with six players included.

 

The selected players are:

 

Kanhaiya Wadhawan

Kamran Iqbal

Abdul Samad

Abid Mushtaq

Sunil Kumar

Yudhvir Singh

Abdul Samad Among J&K's Top Performers

 

Abdul Samad was one of Jammu & Kashmir's leading performers in the previous Ranji season, scoring 748 runs at an average of 57.53 across 15 innings.

 

Kamran Iqbal has also earned his maiden Duleep Trophy call-up after producing an unbeaten 160-run innings against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy final.

 

All-rounder Abid Mushtaq contributed 445 runs and 20 wickets last season and will provide North Zone with an important spin-bowling option.

 

Four Delhi Players Make the Squad

 

Delhi also has a strong presence in the North Zone squad, with four players selected.

 

Among them are Ayush Doseja and Sanat Sangwan, who enjoyed outstanding Ranji Trophy campaigns.

 

Ayush Doseja

 

Doseja scored 949 runs at an average of 105.44 across 12 innings in seven matches, including:

 

4 centuries

5 half-centuries

Sanat Sangwan

 

Sangwan accumulated 828 runs at an average of 69.00 in seven matches, registering:

 

3 centuries

3 half-centuries

 

Yash Dhull and Ayush Badoni have retained their places in the North Zone squad for the second consecutive edition.

 

Arshdeep to Lead the Pace Attack

 

Arshdeep Singh will spearhead North Zone's pace attack alongside:

 

Yudhvir Singh

Sunil Kumar

Anshul Kamboj

 

However, Aqib Nabi, who was the leading wicket-taker in the previous Ranji season, has not been included because he is travelling with the Indian team for its tour of Sri Lanka.

 

North Zone Eyes 19th Duleep Trophy Title

 

North Zone will enter the tournament with a major milestone in sight.

 

The team has won the Duleep Trophy 18 times, while West Zone currently leads the all-time title count with 19 championships.

 

A successful campaign would allow North Zone to draw level with West Zone at the top of the competition's title standings.

 

North Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2026

 

The 15-member squad includes:

 

Kanhaiya Wadhawan (Captain)

Ayush Badoni (Vice-Captain)

Arshdeep Singh

Kamran Iqbal

Abdul Samad

Abid Mushtaq

Sunil Kumar

Yudhvir Singh

Anshul Kamboj

Ayush Doseja

Sanat Sangwan

Yash Dhull

Nishant Sindhu

Other selected squad members

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