West Zone coach Amit Dani wants Duleep Trophy knockout format to be changed

West Zone crashed out of the Duleep Trophy 2026 after suffering a 52-run defeat to North Zone in the quarterfinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 23 to 26. The loss has prompted West Zone coach Amit Dani to raise concerns about the tournament structure and propose a significant change to how the competition is conducted in future seasons.

Dani, a former Mumbai first-class cricketer, has suggested to BCCI that the domestic tournament should reconsider its knockout format. According to Dani, the current structure places unnecessary pressure on teams early in the season when players are still finding their rhythm after the off-season break.

“I suggested to the BCCI that it should seriously consider not having knockout matches until the final in the Duleep Trophy. It’s the first tournament of the season and players are often a bit rusty. Even if North Zone had been knocked out after just one game, it wouldn’t have been fair on their players either,” Dani was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Why Dani wants the format changed

The coach’s proposal stems from concerns about player development and exposure during the tournament. Dani highlighted that the current format limits opportunities for selectors to assess emerging talent across multiple matches, which is crucial for identifying players for higher levels of competition. The tournament calendar offers scope for additional league matches before the final on September 6.

“The selectors wanted to watch Tanush Kotian, but they got to see him in only one match. It was a difficult wicket where the ball was gripping and turning, making batting tough. Players need more games. With the final scheduled only on Sept 6, there is room for one more league match,” Dani added.

Standout performances despite the loss

Despite the quarterfinal exit, Dani praised individual performances from West Zone players. Musheer Khan scored 96 in West Zone’s fourth innings, demonstrating strong batting technique on a challenging surface. Ruturaj Gaikwad was run out while batting on 66 during the chase, showing solid application before his dismissal.

“On that wicket, it was a top-quality knock. It wasn’t easy to bat there, but Musheer showed superb temperament and skill,” Dani said.

Dani identified three standout performers from West Zone’s campaign who he believes merit consideration for higher representative honours. Musheer Khan’s century-plus score, Tanush Kotian’s technical ability and Tushar Deshpande’s bowling intensity all caught the coach’s attention during the tournament.

“For us, Musheer, Tanush and Tushar Deshpande stood out. Tushar bowled with real fire and intensity. I hope all three are considered for India A or the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup,” Dani concluded.