The Duleep Trophy 2026 concluded with East Zone lifting the title, but the red-ball tournament also highlighted several promising uncapped players. A number of emerging cricketers produced strong performances throughout the competition and could attract the attention of the national selectors for future assignments.
East Zone defeated South Zone in the final on the basis of a first-innings lead at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with the match ending on September 10. Five uncapped youngsters stood out with impressive contributions and strengthened their case for debut for the national cricket team.
Duleep Trophy 2026: 5 Uncapped Stars Who Could Play for India in Future
Kumar Kushagra
Kumar Kushagra finished the Duleep Trophy 2026 as the third-highest run-scorer, scoring 224 runs in five innings at an average of 44.80. The Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter played an important role in East Zone’s title-winning campaign, scoring a half-century and a century in the final against South Zone.
Kushagra impressed with his counterattacking approach in the lower middle order. East Zone secured the title on the basis of their first-innings lead. His performances also strengthened his reputation as one of India’s promising young wicketkeeper-batters.
Shikhar Mohan
Shikhar Mohan made an immediate impact despite featuring in only one match in the Duleep Trophy 2026. The left-handed batter played in the final against South Zone and scored 137 runs across two innings, registering a half-century in each innings and a top score of 85.
Mohan scored 85 off 120 balls in the first innings. His performance earned him the No. 3 spot in the Duleep Trophy 2026 Team of the Tournament. He has the ability to handle pressure during major fixtures.
Mohammad Kounain Quraishi
Mohammad Kounain Quraishi enjoyed an impressive first-class debut after being brought into East Zone’s playing XI without any previous red-ball experience. The Dhanbad-born cricketer featured in two matches and picked up five wickets with his bowling.
Quraishi was primarily regarded as a bowler who could contribute useful runs lower down the order. However, he showed another side of his game by scoring an unbeaten century against Tilak Varma’s South Zone.
Abid Mushtaq
Abid Mushtaq was one of the standout bowlers in the Duleep Trophy 2026. The Jammu & Kashmir slow left-arm orthodox spinner, representing North Zone, claimed 12 wickets in four innings at an average of 16.25. He also took a five-wicket haul and finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
Mushtaq maintained a tournament-best economy rate of 2.49. His ability to consistently hit the right areas put opposition batters under pressure and made him a difficult bowler to score against. His performances have strengthened his case as a potential spin option for India in the longer format.
Aryan Juyal
Aryan Juyal showed strong temperament and technique during his stint with Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026. The Uttar Pradesh top-order batter had recently led his state in shorter formats but adapted well to the demands of multi-day cricket.
Juyal played a stabilizing role at No. 3 and showed patience against the moving red ball. He faced 134 deliveries across his two outings, helping Central Zone absorb pressure from the opposition attack. He has the ability to handle the demands of first-class cricket.
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