According to PTI, Indian Test cricketer Akash Deep has been ruled out of the upcoming Duleep Trophy tournament for East Zone, with Assam pacer Mukhtar Hussain named as his replacement. The Bengal fast bowler, who recently participated in India's drawn Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England, showed signs of discomfort during the matches and will now miss the start of the domestic season.
Mukhtar Hussain, who will step in for Akash Deep, brings considerable experience to the East Zone squad. The 26-year-old Assam pacer has claimed 132 wickets in 40 first-class matches at an average of 28.2.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The exact reason for Akash Deep's absence remains undisclosed, though it may be related to potential fitness concerns following the demanding Test series against England. During that series, Akash Deep had delivered a memorable performance at Edgbaston, securing a 10-wicket haul that proved crucial in India's victory.
However, his form appeared to decline in subsequent matches, where he managed to take only three wickets. During the Oval Test, there were indications of potential fitness issues when teammate Gill was overheard asking about his injection.
Despite his bowling struggles, Akash Deep contributed significantly with the bat at the Oval, scoring 66 runs as a nightwatchman, which helped India secure another victory in the series.
The East Zone team, set to be captained by
Ishan Kishan with
Abhimanyu Easwaran as vice-captain, includes players like
Riyan Parag, Mohammed Shami, and Mukesh Kumar. The complete squad consists of fifteen players with five standby players.
Duleep Trophy Schedule:
wp-block-list grid-cols-1 gap-2 grid mb-4- text-ispgrey-100 text-sm font-isp-500 p-1 list-item-disc relative ml-2 pl-4Quarterfinal 1: August 28-31, 2025: North Zone vs East Zone
- text-ispgrey-100 text-sm font-isp-500 p-1 list-item-disc relative ml-2 pl-4Quarterfinal 2: August 28-31, 2025: Central Zone vs NorthEast Zone
- text-ispgrey-100 text-sm font-isp-500 p-1 list-item-disc relative ml-2 pl-4Semifinal 1: September 4-7, 2025: South Zone vs Winner QF1
- text-ispgrey-100 text-sm font-isp-500 p-1 list-item-disc relative ml-2 pl-4Semifinal 2: September 4-7, 2025: North Zone vs Winner QF2
- text-ispgrey-100 text-sm font-isp-500 p-1 list-item-disc relative ml-2 pl-4Final: September 11-15, 2025: Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2
The full East Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2025 comprises Ishan Kishan (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vice-captain), Sandeep Patnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Riyan Parag, Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Mukhtar Hussain, and Mohammed Shami.
Aasirwad Swain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kr Gharami, and Rahul Singh are standby players.
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