The Duleep Trophy 2025 is set to kick off India’s domestic season from August 28 to September 15 in Bengaluru, returning to its traditional zonal format.
With the BCCI making domestic cricket a priority for national selection, many top Indian stars are expected to feature in this red-ball tournament.
The knockout competition will see North, East, Central, and North East Zone facing in the quarterfinals, while South and West Zone, the 2023 finalists, join directly in the semifinals. Notably, several forgotten names who once wore the India jersey are now eyeing a comeback. For them, the Duleep Trophy is the perfect platform to get back to the national squad.
Here are the three forgotten cricketers who can make comeback with their Duleep Trophy performances:
3. Mukesh Kumar:
Mukesh Kumar made his international debut against the West Indies in 2023 and was seen as a regular feature in India’s Test side after his all-format debut in the same year. However, the pacer has slipped down the pecking order. Having represented India A, the right-arm pacer is now eyeing the Duleep Trophy as a platform to get back into the national team.
The 30-year-old will turn out for East Zone, where he will share the new ball with Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep. He can swing the ball and bowl at consistent lengths, making him a big threat. So far, he has played three Tests, six ODIs, and 17 T20Is, picking seven, five, and 20 wickets.
2. Deepak Chahar:
Right-arm pacer Deepak Chahar is eyeing a revival in his career with the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The 33-year-old, who will represent Central Zone, returns after another injury setback that saw him miss part of IPL 2025 with the Mumbai Indians. Recently, he was even spotted bowling at India’s net sessions during the England tour.
Chahar has had a start-stop career with moments of brilliance, including his record-breaking 6/7 against Bangladesh in T20Is and his lower-order contribution with an unbeaten 69 against Sri Lanka in 2021. However, injuries have repeatedly kept him away from the game. With his ability to swing the ball upfront and contribute handy runs down the order, the Duleep Trophy could be the perfect platform for Chahar to make a comeback. So far, he has played 13 ODIs and 25 T20Is, bagging 16 and 31 wickets, respectively.
1. Rajat Patidar:
Rajat Patidar is one of those cricketers who has great potential, yet his career hasn't grown especially in international level as he would have liked. Despite playing just one ODI and three Tests and scoring 22 and 63 runs, respectively, he hasn't been able to be a regular member of the Indian team. However, his recent brilliance as a leader has triggered talks about his comeback.
In IPL 2025, he made history by guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden title in his very first season as captain and scored 286 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 142.28. Now, as vice-captain of the Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2025, Patidar has another chance to make it to the national team. In the last edition of the Duleep Trophy, playing for India C, he scored 146 runs in three games.
