Mukesh Kumar took eight wickets in the Irani Cup, and Bengal have him, Shami and Akash Deep against Delhi
Two of Bengal’s three India pacers are also in the India A squad for New Zealand, so Sunday’s Ranji Trophy opener in Kalyani could be a rare game with all three.
Oct 7, 2026
Bengal named their squad for the Ranji Trophy opener on Wednesday, and three of the 17 are fast bowlers who have played for India: Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar. They start against Delhi in Kalyani on Sunday, 11 October.
It may be a while before Bengal can pick all three again. Akash Deep and Mukesh are also in the 15-man India A squad for three four-day games against New Zealand A. The first starts in Lincoln on 24 October and the last finishes on 10 November, so both will be away for part of Bengal’s group campaign.
Mukesh comes in off the Irani Cup
Mukesh arrives in form. He took 2 for 84 and then 6 for 33 for Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar, where the Irani Cup was won by 167 runs on 4 October. It was his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
Shami’s position is different. He has not played for India since the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai in March 2025. He was in the East Zone side that won the Duleep Trophy last month, on first-innings lead against South Zone in Chennai, and the selectors have still not come back to him.
Abhimanyu Easwaran is captain, with Sudip Kumar Gharami as his deputy. Easwaran has travelled with India’s Test squad as a reserve opener but is still uncapped. Abishek Porel is also in the squad. Shahbaz Ahmed is missing after picking up an injury in the Duleep Trophy.
Delhi bring back the coach who won them their last title
Bengal’s last season ended in the semi-finals in Kalyani, where Jammu and Kashmir beat them by six wickets and then went on to win the title. Delhi have not won the Ranji Trophy since 2007-08, when they beat Uttar Pradesh in the final.
Their coach that season was Vijay Dahiya, and he is back in charge for a fourth spell. Ayush Badoni is the new captain, with Yash Dhull as vice-captain, and Navdeep Saini leads the seam attack. Sarthak Ranjan has also returned to the red-ball squad.