In a major blow to East Zone ahead of the Duleep Trophy 2025 opener, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out after sustaining an injury during his County Championship stint with Nottinghamshire.

Following Kishan’s exit, experienced opener Abhimanyu Easwaran has been appointed captain for the upcoming clash against Shubman Gill-led North Zone, scheduled to begin on August 28. Assam’s Riyan Parag has been named vice-captain.

East Zone has also faced another setback, with pacer Akash Deep advised to rest after his recent Test appearances against England. Assam’s Mukhtar Hussain has been brought in as his replacement, while Odisha’s Aashirwad Swain will replace Kishan in the squad.

The revised East Zone lineup features a mix of experienced and emerging talents, including Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Kumar Kushagra. The reshuffle adds an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament’s opening game as East Zone looks to overcome early challenges against a strong North Zone side.