Veteran Indian cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been left out of the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025.

The specialist test batters have been left out of the squad, with bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur named as the captain.

The duo has been pillars of the Indian Test team in the 2010s, but have not played international red-ball cricket in a while. The decision announced by the West Zone side on August 01, which could be drawing curtains for their test careers.

Cheteshwar Pujara is commentating on England vs India 2025 series, while Ajinkya Rahane is focusing on his YouTube career. The players did play in the Ranju Trophy last season.

The Duleep Trophy has returned to its traditional zonal format a year after being contested as a four-team tournament. Notably, the 2024-25 edition of the tournament featured four teams India A, India B, India C and India D.

India A were crowned champions of the tournament after they have finished at the top of the points table with two wins from three matches, having 12 points to their name.

However, the four-team format was given a thumbs down at the recent BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) Annual General Meeting.

The tournament will be returning to their original format where six teams from as many zones – Central, West, North, South and North East are taking part in the tournament.

Hence, the BCCI has decided to bring back the zonal format to give fair opportunities to all the players.

West Zone Squad: Shardul Thakur (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Nawale (WK) Tanush kotian, dharmenndra jadeja, Tushar deshpandeArzan nagwaswalla