Gurnoor Brar included in North Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2026 semifinal clash vs South Zone

Following the conclusion of India's 1-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka on Thursday, right-arm fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has been named in the North Zone squad for their upcoming Duleep Trophy semi-final against South Zone.

North Zone bolstered by Gurnoor's inclusion ahead of Duleep Trophy semis

The Punjab paceman has traveled to Bengaluru to join his teammates at the BCCI Centre of Excellence ahead of Sunday's match, where he is likely to be named in the starting lineup as national selectors seek to give him crucial red-ball match practice before November's two-Test series against New Zealand.

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While Brar still awaits his senior Test cap, he has firmly established himself in the national setup. He was included in the squad for India's past two Test series and has featured in the BCCI's targeted player developmental program for over a year.

His recent form highlights why he remains high on the selectors' radar. During India A's shadow tour of Sri Lanka in July, Brar turned heads with a dominant performance in the second unofficial Test, delivering match figures of 10 for 145. Across his 19 first-class appearances to date, the Punjab bowler has compiled a strong record of 62 wickets at an average of 25.24.

On the international front, Brar made his One Day International debut facing Afghanistan in June before taking part in all three matches during India's tour of England. Through six ODI appearances, the pacer has captured 11 wickets while maintaining an average of 32.81.

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Duleep Trophy semi-finals are set, featuring a matchup between Central Zone and East Zone in the first fixture, while North Zone takes on South Zone in the second. The winners of both clashes will then head to Chennai, where the tournament's final is scheduled to take place at the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium starting September 6.

Auqib Nabi to ply trade in County cricket

Elsewhere, in other news, Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi is finalising visa arrangements to secure a short stint in English county cricket. Rather than retaining him in the Duleep Trophy setup for now, national selectors prefer to test the swing bowler in seam-friendly English conditions.

Nabi is coming off an exceptional 2025-26 Ranji Trophy campaign, where he took 60 wickets at a blistering average of 12.56. Although he missed selection for the recent Sri Lanka Test series, his proficiency with the new ball keeps him in strong contention for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Should his county plans fall through, Nabi's alternative schedule begins September 22, when India A faces Australia in Puducherry. Following that fixture, he is expected to rejoin Jammu and Kashmir for their Irani Cup match against Rest of India, set for October 1-5 in Srinagar. However, because the second India A game against Australia directly overlaps with the Irani Cup, selectors face a scheduling conflict between the two squads, with fixture adjustments currently unlikely.