India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will miss the opening match of the Duleep Trophy 2025, scheduled to begin on August 28, after suffering a minor injury during his County Championship stint with Nottinghamshire. The left-hander, who was also not considered as a replacement for Rishabh Pant during the recent England tour, reportedly required multiple stitches and is currently in recovery.
Aashirwad Swain Replaces Kishan in East Zone Squad
With Kishan unavailable, Aashirwad Swain of Orissa has been named as his replacement in the East Zone squad for their quarterfinal clash against North Zone. The decision was made in line with medical advice focused on Kishan’s fitness management.
Another significant change in the East Zone camp is the withdrawal of Akash Deep, the Bengal pacer who impressed during the England Tests with 13 wickets, including a 10-wicket match haul at Edgbaston. He has also been advised rest and will be replaced by Mukhtar Hussain of Assam.
Star-Studded Clash: Shubman Gill to Lead North Zone
The East Zone side will be led by seasoned domestic cricketer Abhimanyu Easwaran, with Riyan Parag named vice-captain. The squad also features international regulars Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, strengthening the bowling attack.
On the other side, India Test captain Shubman Gill will lead a competitive North Zone team in a high-stakes quarterfinal set to be played at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
East Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2025 Quarterfinal:
- Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain)
- Aashirwad Swain (Wicketkeeper)
- Sandeep Patnaik
- Virat Singh
- Denish Das
- Sridam Paul
- Sharandeep Singh
- Kumar Kushagra (Wicketkeeper)
- Riyan Parag (Vice-Captain)
- Utkarsh Singh
- Manishi
- Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal
- Mukesh Kumar
- Mukhtar Hussain
- Mohammed Shami
The Duleep Trophy continues to be a critical platform for domestic players to make a case for national selection, especially in a year leading up to major international tournaments. All eyes will be on the upcoming matches as several stars and future prospects battle it out.
