Duleep Trophy 2025-26: 5 Star bowlers who are not part of the tournament

The Duleep Trophy is meant to be India’s red-ball proving ground. A place where established internationals rub shoulders with hungry domestic players and where Test claims get sharpened. This year’s squads, however, arrived with a surprise in several frontline bowlers who would normally dominate the headlines, but aren’t part of the tournament. 

Some exclusions have raised eyebrows, and so the BCCI has publicly nudged state associations to include centrally-contracted players when appropriate, which shows the board wants the Duleep Trophy to remain a meaningful selection trial and not a lightly staffed curtain-raiser. Here are five star bowlers missing from Duleep Trophy 2025-26, why they aren’t playing, and what their absence means for the competition.

1. Jasprit Bumrah 

Bumrah’s name was expectedly absent from the early rounds, and that’s largely by design. Indian management has publicly stressed workload management for the pacer after recent back and fitness concerns. The board and support staff have been careful about his calendar so he’s available for major ICC events. 

Practically, that means Bumrah is being preserved for bigger assignments rather than thrown into a four-day domestic grind. His non-appearance reduces the tournament’s raw pace threat and hands more overs to emerging quicks. 

2. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj also did not feature in the zonal lists, a decision that provoked a strong reaction from the BCCI after some state panels omitted centrally-contracted players. Reports indicate South Zone left Siraj out of its squad, prompting the board to remind associations that certain Indian players should not be skipped lightly. 

Siraj’s absence removes a proven new-ball strike option from the domestic stage and draws attention to selection discipline as much as player availability. Although this rest might be something very well needed by the pace spearhead, as he played all five games in the recent tour.

3. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja was another high-profile name not participating after being released from an earlier Duleep squad. Reports cited workload, international commitments and occasional administrative decisions for his non-involvement. Jadeja’s left-arm spin and sharp fielding are hard to replace in a multi-day format. 

Without him, teams lose a senior, match-savvy spinner who also offers the batting depth of a proper middle-order batter as well. His omission nudges selectors and captains to rely on specialist spinners who haven’t yet had Jadeja’s experience. 

4. Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna was another name missing from several zonal lists, which again triggered notices from the board. There are contradictory signals with some state panels that appear to have opted for local rhythm over national reputations, and Prasidh reportedly wasn’t picked by his zone. 

Whether it’s rest after a heavy season or a selection call prioritising domestic form, his absence weakens a tournament that benefits from experienced fast bowlers who can test young batters with pace and bounce.

5. Akash Deep

Akash Deep’s situation is clearer, but not good. He was initially named but then ruled out of the tournament after discomfort was noted following recent red-ball action. As a result, the team called up a replacement. That sequence of selection, then medical rest, underlines the narrow margins for seamers carrying workload from international tours. 

Losing Akash Deep hurts East Zone’s seam depth and hands responsibility to a thinner seam group when quick bowling overs are the true currency in four-day cricket. Especially with his brilliant form from the England tour, Deep could have been their X-factor with the ball.

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