Duleep Trophy 2026: 3 bowlers who can break into Indian Test team

The Duleep Trophy has been a historic competition in India’s cricketing cycles, bringing out the best players from each geographical zone and giving them a platform to shine. The competition recognises the best and most consistent performers in India’s domestic game and offers a platform for highly rated players to shine. India’s domestic red-ball game is often dominated by bowlers, who have influence in deciding match and tournament outcomes. The 2026 edition of the Duleep Trophy will put on display potential new faces who could establish themselves as household names before an eventual senior side call-up.

Here are 3 bowlers who can come in to India’s Test team after Duleep Trophy 2026:

3) Yudhvir Singh

Jammu & Kashmir seam bowler Yudhvir Singh has been touted as a prospect due to his tall frame and hit-the-deck bowling. Yudhvir played a key role in J&K’s first-ever Ranji Trophy triumph, picking up 21 wickets in seven matches. He has played 19 first-class games in which he has taken 50 wickets, proving his potential as a strike bowler. He is part of the North Zone squad but has yet to feature in the competition.

With India looking to develop a highly dependable and robust pace battery that can perform across conditions, Yudhvir’s hit-the-deck bowling and high pace would make him an automatic contender, as these are attributes highly valued in the game. He was named in the India A squad for the series in Sri Lanka in June, but had to pull out due to injury. A solid tournament could put Yudhvir back on the radar of the national side.

2) Shams Mulani

Shams Mulani has been a true stalwart of India’s domestic game. The Mumbai all-rounder has toiled in the format for years, racking up runs and wickets, becoming one of the indispensable players of Mumbai cricket. Mulani has picked up 265 wickets and scored 2,523 runs in 58 matches, becoming one of his team’s most reliable players. Playing for West Zone, Mulani picked up two wickets and scored a half-century in the quarterfinal against North Zone. 

With Saransh Jain’s debut with the senior side in Sri Lanka keeping the door open for domestic stalwarts to make the Indian team, Mulani would be hopeful of a future call-up, with the numbers with both bat and ball to back his case. He will be looking to put up a good showing in this edition of the tournament.

1) Zeeshan Ansari

Zeeshan Ansari‘s career has gone from strength to strength in the last few months. The leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh broke out as a find in the shortest format but has slowly crept up the ranks as a regular presence in the red-ball game. Part of India’s Under-19 batch of 2016, which featured the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan and Khaleel Ahmed, Ansari took some time to find his footing back in the senior game.

Ansari recently made his debut with India A against Sri Lanka A but went wicketless in both innings. With the form of Kuldeep Yadav facing a dip, India are on the lookout for a new wrist-spinner, and a brilliant performance from Ansari could put him in the running for a senior call-up.