21 July,2026 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Shams Mulani
Maharashtra batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad was named West Zone captain with Mumbai's left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Shams Mulani, his deputy, as the 15-member squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy was announced by the selection committee, chaired by Mumbai chief selector Rajesh Pawar, on Monday.
West Zone will play North Zone in the four-day quarter-final, beginning on August 23 in Bengaluru.
The team has as many as six Mumbai boys including Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Tanush Kotian and Musheer Khan along with Maharashtra opener Prithiv Shaw.
"This West Zone team is a balanced one with good all-rounders. We preferred Ruturaj as captain as he's also leading India âA'. Shams is an experienced player and that's why we appointed him as vice-captain. Prithvi has scored 500-plus runs last season, so deserves his place," Pawar told mid-day.
Shams Mulani, 29, who has claimed 265 scalps and scored 2523 runs in 58 first-class games, is hoping to excel as he takes on additional responsibility.
"This is an important domestic season for me. Quite a few new players have been brought into the Indian team, which shows that they [selectors] are keen on fresh talent. If I can perform well, as I've been doing over the years, and maybe push harder, I could get into the India âA' team and better still, the India team too. This is a crucial juncture. I'm at an age where I have to give it my all, maybe one last big push and a good performance at this Duleep Trophy will help," said Mulani.
