The Duleep Trophy 2026 got underway on August 23, 2026, with two quarter-finals being held simultaneously at two grounds inside the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. East Zone are battling it out against North East Zone on Ground 2, while North Zone and West Zone squaring off on Ground 1.

Several batters have used the early round to press their case for a place in India’s Test setup. Three players in particular have caught the eye with their performances across the two quarter-finals.

3 batters who can break into the Indian Test team after Duleep Trophy 2026

3. Shahbaz Ahmed

Shahbaz Ahmed is a batting all-rounder from Bengal who represents East Zone in the 2026 Duleep Trophy. Coming in against North East Zone in the first quarter-final, he produced an outstanding all-round display that is difficult to overlook at the national selection level.

In the same match, Shahbaz scored 167 off 244 balls before picking up three wickets with his left-arm spin. That kind of contribution with both bat and ball makes him a compelling candidate for the Indian Test side, where all-round depth is always valued. People who have seen Shahbaz playing in the Indian Premier League would know that he is also a top-notch fielder.

2. Ayush Badoni

Ayush Badoni is North Zone’s vice-captain in the 2026 Duleep Trophy and represents Delhi. He is a batter who also bowls off-spin, giving him a dual role that adds to his appeal as a Test prospect. The 26-year-old likes to keep the scoreboard ticking and is ideal for how the red-ball format is being played at this moment.

In North Zone’s first innings against West Zone, Badoni struck 51 off 57 balls, batting with utmost ease. At the close of Day 2, he was unbeaten on 39 off 49 balls. North Zone had slipped to 190 for 7 at that stage, and Badoni’s contributions on both occasions stood out amid a middle-order collapse. His off-spin provides a useful additional option for any side he represents.

1. Sudip Kumar Gharami

Sudip Kumar Gharami is a 27-year-old Bengal batter who plays for East Zone. He walked in against North East Zone with his side in early trouble at 25/2 and responded with a composed and attacking innings.

Also Read: 3 reasons why Rishabh Pant needs to score consistently in Tests

Gharami scored 146 off 185 balls, hitting 25 fours and one six at a strike rate of 78.92. With Devdutt Padikkal having scored two centuries in Sri Lanka and appearing to have secured the No. 3 spot in India’s Test order, Gharami could serve as a capable backup for that position. The right-handed batter is technically very solid and is equally good against spin and pace. He is capable of scoring quickly but can also play the waiting game if the conditions are in favour of the bowlers.

Rishabh Pant is in the middle of an important stretch on India’s Test tour of Sri Lanka. India lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the 1st Test at Galle by 165 runs, and the 2nd Test is under way at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

Across three innings on this tour, Pant has registered two half-centuries. In the 2nd Test, he was dismissed for 63 off 89 deliveries, having hit two sixes and six boundaries. That knock was his 21st Test fifty, and it came after he had retired hurt on 3 on Day 1 following a blow to his left wrist from a Lahiru Kumara delivery. The reasons for him to keep producing such performances, however, go beyond this series alone.

3 reasons why Rishabh Pant needs to score consistently in Tests

3. Competition from Dhruv Jurel and a crowded batting order

Dhruv Jurel smashed 115 not out off 177 balls, sharing an unbroken 112-run seventh-wicket stand with Pant. It was his second Test century, and he has shown the ability to handle both pace and spin with assurance. Devdutt Padikkal has further strengthened India’s middle order by scoring his second Test century in as many games in this series. He made 117 off 193 deliveries in the 2nd Test, spending close to five hours at the crease and hitting 12 boundaries, following 167 runs in the 1st Test. With Jurel pushing hard for a regular berth and Padikkal firmly established, the batting order is becoming increasingly competitive. Once Sai Sudharsan returns from injury, India may prefer to field him over carrying two wicketkeepers, which would put additional pressure on Pant to justify his place purely on batting merit.

2. His ability to change the course of a game

Pant’s value to India is not limited to accumulating runs. In the 1st Test second innings at Galle, he batted on a surface that was turning sharply and offering uneven bounce, finding inventive ways to score by dancing down the pitch, flat-batting short deliveries and pulling balls behind square by getting inside the line. He reached his fifty at a run-a-ball rate in that innings, and the milestone also brought up his 100th Test six, making him only the fourth batter in the world to reach that mark after Adam Gilchrist, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. That kind of counter-attacking batting can shift the momentum of a match within a session or two, a quality that is difficult to replace.

Also Read: ‘I always ask him for advice’ – Dhruv Jurel on batting with Rishabh Pant

1. Proven record in SENA countries and experience during a transition phase

Pant holds Test centuries in Australia, England and South Africa, making him the only Indian wicketkeeper to have scored Test hundreds in each of those three countries. That record in challenging overseas conditions underlines how valuable he is on tours where conditions are least familiar to Indian batters. Beyond the statistics, India are currently in a transition phase with several new faces being given opportunities at the Test level. Pant’s experience in high-pressure situations adds stability to a dressing room that is still finding its shape. A player with his overseas record and match-winning ability will be extremely difficult to replace, which makes consistent run-scoring from him all the more important for India’s Test ambitions going forward.

Brendon McCullum has been removed from his post as England Men’s Test coach, marking the end of the Bazball era that once promised a revolution in Test cricket. Ben Stokes’ shock international retirement and England’s subsequent capitulation to a series defeat have left the ECB under pressure to not only find his replacement as Test captain but potentially rip up the entire Bazball era and start afresh.

The search for the next England Test head coach is now underway, with the 2027 Ashes looming as a critical deadline. The ECB must identify a leader who understands English cricket culture, commands respect from the dressing room, and can build a disciplined yet competitive Test unit.

The next coach will inherit a side bruised by recent failures but filled with talented batters and bowlers. England’s Test ranking and world standing now depend on finding the right voice to steer the ship. The timing couldn’t be tighter, with international cricket’s flagship series approaching fast.

Here are three former England internationals who possess the credentials and experience to lead the nation back to Test glory:

3 players who can replace Brendon McCullum as England’s Test head coach

Jonathan Trott

Jonathan Trott is a former England cricketer who is the former head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team. Afghanistan’s final T20 World Cup 2026 group stage game against Canada in Chennai was Trott’s final game in charge, when the Rashid Khan-led side beat Pakistan and England in the ODI World Cup 2023 and qualified for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024. His tenure with Afghanistan, though mixed in recent years, demonstrated his ability to elevate a team from underdogs to genuine contenders on the world stage.

After stepping down as Afghanistan coach, Jonathan Trott expressed pride in his tenure and revealed his ambition to coach England in the future, now open to considering new opportunities following the T20 World Cup 2026. Trott said he would love to one day have the opportunity to coach a team that he holds so dear to his heart, though acknowledged there are many people who would love the job. Trott worked as a batting coach for the senior England men’s team on their tour of India in 2021 and understands the modern English player mentality. His blend of coaching experience and deep ties to English cricket give him a realistic shot at the role.

Alastair Cook

Cook scored 12,472 runs in 161 Tests for England between 2006 and 2018, with only Joe Root having more runs for the country, and captained them in 59 matches, winning 24, losing 22 and drawing 13. His resume speaks to a player who thrived under pressure, mastered varied conditions, and understood what it takes to lead a world-class Test team. Cook’s retirement from all cricket in 2023 has left him free of coaching commitments, making him immediately available.

Cook expressed a strong desire to contribute meaningfully to the future of English cricket should the right opportunity present itself. He emphasised that there has been “zero contact” from the board so far, noting that the team currently has a full staff in place, and remains open to the idea of helping the squad in the future. If McCullum’s great strength is making his players feel 10 feet tall, Cook could help with the drive and the discipline, according to veteran analyst Michael Atherton. His technical prowess, championship mindset, and experience battling Australia in their own backyard make him a compelling choice.

Eoin Morgan

Morgan captained England in limited overs cricket from 2015 until his international retirement in June 2022 and is regarded as one of England’s greatest limited-overs captains, under whose captaincy England won the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and reached the final of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20. While his pedigree is limited-overs focused, his leadership credentials are unmatched in modern English cricket.

Morgan is a cricket commentator and former cricketer who played for Ireland and England, currently without a coaching role and available immediately. Morgan previously said the timing for everything in his life at that moment was not right, citing a young family and spending more time at home while loving what he’s doing watching cricket through commentary. However, the England Test job carries prestige that could change his calculus. His revolutionary impact on England’s white-ball culture, combined with his tactical intelligence and player management skills, could translate well to the red-ball arena if he chooses to pivot into full-time coaching.

The ECB will weigh experience against fresh perspective as it navigates this crucial transition. With the 2027 Ashes in Australia on the horizon, England must move decisively to appoint the right leader.