Wadhawan named North Zone captain for Duleep Trophy 2025, Badoni vice-captain
Synopsis
J&K's Kanhaiya Wadhawan leads a North Zone side stacked with Ranji form and international firepower — Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj, and a Yash Dhull comeback — as the Duleep Trophy kicks off in Bengaluru on 23 August. Their opening clash against Ruturaj Gaikwad's West Zone is the fixture to watch.
Key Takeaways
Kanhaiya Wadhawan (J&K) named captain and Ayush Badoni (Delhi) appointed vice-captain of North Zone for Duleep Trophy 2025 .
The tournament runs from 23 August to 10 September at the BCCI Centre of Excellence , Bengaluru.
India pacers Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj headline the bowling attack.
Ayush Doseja and Sanat Sangwan scored 950 and 848 runs respectively in the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy.
North Zone face Ruturaj Gaikwad -led West Zone in their opening match from 23–26 August .
Yash Dhull , India's 2022 U19 World Cup-winning captain, is also part of the squad.
Kanhaiya Wadhawan, the Jammu & Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter, has been named captain of the North Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, scheduled from 23 August to 10 September at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Delhi batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni has been appointed vice-captain, the North Zone selection committee confirmed after meeting in New Delhi on Monday.
Squad Composition and Key Picks
The 15-member squad blends international experience with proven domestic performers. Alongside Wadhawan in the batting core are his J&K state-mates Qamran Iqbal — who struck an unbeaten 160 in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka at Hubbali as J&K claimed their first-ever Ranji title — and hard-hitting Abdul Samad.
Delhi batters Ayush Doseja and Sanat Sangwan add further depth, having amassed 950 and 848 runs respectively in the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy. Yash Dhull, who captained India to the 2022 Under-19 World Cup title, is also included.
Bowling Firepower
The pace department carries serious weight with India internationals Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj leading the attack. They are supported by J&K's fast-bowling duo of Yudhvir Singh and Sunil Kumar.
In spin, Badoni will operate alongside Haryana's left-arm spinning all-rounder Nishant Sindhu, off-spinner Nikhil Kashyap, left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, and Services' Arjun Sharma — giving North Zone a varied spin arsenal suited to the Bengaluru surface.
Duleep Trophy Schedule and North Zone's Path
North Zone open their campaign against Ruturaj Gaikwad-led West Zone at BCCI CoE Ground 1 in Bengaluru from 23–26 August. The winner of that fixture advances to the semi-final against Tilak Varma-led South Zone.
Notably, Badoni's inclusion as vice-captain is backed by form — he scored 307 runs in last year's Duleep Trophy, making him one of the competition's standout performers heading into this edition.
Full North Zone Squad
Sanat Sangwan, Qamran Iqbal, Yash Dhull, Ayush Doseja, Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni (vice-captain), Kanhaiya Wadhawan (captain), Nishant Sindhu, Arjun Sharma, Abid Mushtaq, Arshdeep Singh, Sunil Kumar, Anshul Kamboj, Yudhvir Singh, Nikhil Kashyap.
With Arshdeep Singh's international pedigree and a batting line-up rich in recent Ranji form, North Zone enter the Duleep Trophy as credible contenders for the title.
Point of View
But the pressure is now on Doseja and Sangwan to convert Ranji volume into knockout-stage performances. If North Zone go deep, this squad could push several names back into the national selectors' conversation.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been named captain of North Zone for Duleep Trophy 2025?
Jammu & Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan has been named captain of the North Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2025. Delhi all-rounder Ayush Badoni has been appointed vice-captain.
When and where is the Duleep Trophy 2025 being held?
The Duleep Trophy 2025 is scheduled from 23 August to 10 September at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. North Zone's opening match against West Zone is at CoE Ground 1 from 23–26 August.
Which India internationals are in the North Zone Duleep Trophy squad?
India pacers Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj are the prominent internationals in the North Zone squad. Their inclusion gives the side significant pace firepower for the tournament.
Who is Ayush Badoni and why was he made vice-captain?
Ayush Badoni is a Delhi batting all-rounder who scored 307 runs in the previous edition of the Duleep Trophy, making him one of its top performers. His consistent form earned him the vice-captaincy for the 2025 edition.
What is North Zone's path in the Duleep Trophy 2025?
North Zone face Ruturaj Gaikwad-led West Zone in their opening match from 23–26 August. The winner of that fixture advances to the semi-final against Tilak Varma-led South Zone.
