Gurnoor Brar Joins North Zone Squad
Punjab fast bowler added for Duleep Trophy semi-final against South Zone as Yash Dhull likely to miss match with injury
Gurnoor Brar has been added to the North Zone squad for their Duleep Trophy semi-final against South Zone. The 2026 Duleep Trophy is being held from August 23 to September 10, with the semi-finals and quarter-finals staged at the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds in Bengaluru.
The North Zone team, led by Kanhaiya Wadhawan, had earlier defeated West Zone by 52 runs in the quarterfinals. However, they may have to face their semi-final match without top-order batter Yash Dhull, who is likely to miss the match due to a hamstring injury.
In other quarterfinal matches, East Zone, led by Ishan Kishan, defeated North East Zone by an innings and 210 runs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old left-hander, picked up 2 wickets for 11 runs in 3 overs in East Zone's quarterfinal victory.
The Duleep Trophy 2026 semi-final between East Zone and Central Zone will start at 9:30 AM IST on Sunday, August 30, 2026. The final of the tournament will be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
## What's at stake The Duleep Trophy is a key tournament in Indian domestic cricket, and the semi-finals mark a crucial stage in the competition. The winners of the semi-finals will progress to the final, which will be held in Chennai. With the addition of Gurnoor Brar to the North Zone squad, they will be looking to strengthen their team and make a strong push for the title.
## Why it matters The Duleep Trophy provides a platform for young and experienced players to showcase their skills and potentially get selected for the national team. The tournament also helps to identify talent and provide opportunities for players to develop their game. With the semi-finals and final being held at prominent venues, the tournament is expected to attract significant attention and interest from cricket fans across the country.
