Ishan Kishan played his last Test in 2023 [Source: AFP]India’s domestic season 2026/27 curtain-raiser, the Duleep Trophy, commences on August 23 and will run till September 10. Players from six zones will be in action, looking to build on impressive 2025/26 red-ball campaigns and strengthen their case for national selection.For years, the Duleep Trophy has served as a bridge between the Ranji Trophy and the Indian team, providing a platform for players on the national selectors’ radar.Among the six zonal teams are also players who have already represented India but are currently out of the Test squad for various reasons. So, here’s a look at the players with a point to prove, as underperformance could close the door for their Test comeback, at least for the time being. 1. Ishan KishanWhy is the Duleep Trophy 2026 make-or-break for Ishan Kishan?Ishan Kishan’s blockbuster return to the Indian white-ball teams has been the most inspirational redemption story of 2026. After winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Jharkhand as the captain, Kishan has scored 812 T20I runs in 23 innings at a strike rate of 176.90, taking him to the number 1 T20I ranking. However, in Tests, the dynamics are different. Ishan Kishan made his debut in 2023 and played two Tests, scoring 52* in one of the innings. But India already have Rishabh Pant, who is indispensable from the Playing XI, and Dhruv Jurel is next in line with quality India A performances under his belt.Breaking into the Test squad would require something extraordinary from the left-hand batter. Winning the Duleep Trophy and scoring big will be crucial for him to stay in contention.Also Read: Indian T20 Regulars Who Will Have A Shot At Test Team Based On Duleep Trophy2. Mukesh KumarWhy is the Duleep Trophy 2026 make-or-break for Mukesh Kumar?Mukesh Kumar has already played all three formats for India during the Rahul Dravid era. In 2023, he broke onto the scene as someone with good control over the red ball and considered to be a dependable option in seam-friendly conditions.In three Tests played, Mukesh Kumar managed only 7 wickets, including a 4/56 in a single match. He was later dropped in 2024 and never returned to the squad. Now, with Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness woes, India need some reliable pacers, especially with the New Zealand tour coming up.As things stand, Gurnoor Brar is making a name for himself, while Mohammed Siraj is a permanent fixture. There are other options like Prasidh Krishna and Auqib Nabi, among others. But a good Duleep Trophy could help Mukesh Kumar earn an India recall; on the contrary, a bad tournament at 32 would practically end his hopes of making Test return. 3. Shardul ThakurWhy is the Duleep Trophy 2026 make-or-break for Shardul Thakur?The 34-year-old Shardul Thakur has openly expressed his wish to return to the Indian team on several occasions. 12 of his 13 Tests have come away from home, while he has only bowled 10 balls in India before getting injured on debut.For years, Shardul Thakur was around the team for his ability to bat well and provide depth to the lower-middle-order, while chipping in with crucial breakthroughs from time to time. Thakur essentially filled in the pace-bowling all-rounder’s role for a long time, but with Nitish Kumar Reddy’s emergence, Thakur has lost his place in the team.Shardul Thakur was a part of the squad in the England tour in 2025 but hasn't been called up since. Nonetheless, as Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy have had fitness concerns, bringing him back for the New Zealand tour will definitely be on the table if he delivers in the Duleep Trophy. However, if he fails, Thakur will probably lose the last opportunity for his comeback to the Test team. 4. Rajat PatidarWhy is the Duleep Trophy 2026 make-or-break for Rajat Patidar?Wherever Rajat Patidar has played over the past 15 to 18 months, he has been a standout performer. In 2025, he led Central Zone to the Duleep Trophy win with 382 runs in 5 innings, including 2 fifties and 2 hundreds. Additionally, his leadership has stood out in both IPL and domestic cricket.Since being dropped from the Test team after scoring only 63 runs in 6 innings of his debut series, Rajat Patidar has not been called back by the team. Currently, there is an outside chance that one of the middle-order spots could be up for grabs, with Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan still finding their feet in Test cricket. If Rajat Patidar does well in the Duleep Trophy, it could help him get a push towards the India comeback, considering he boasts 77 First-Class matches and 5509 runs at 44.07 under his belt. On the other hand, a bad tournament at the age of 33 will likely end his Test ambitions. 5. Anshul KambojWhy is the Duleep Trophy 2026 make-or-break for Anshul Kamboj?Anshul Kamboj is yet another name, just like Mukesh Kumar, who could bolster India’s pace bowling depth with similar control over the ball and also the ability to bat in the lower order. Kamboj has 105 FC wickets in 34 matches, averaging 24.04 at an economy rate of 3.05. He is very instrumental in the Haryana setup and has been trusted with opportunities on India A tours. However, Anshul Kamboj's India debut went south, as he picked up only 1 wicket and finished with 1/89 in the match.While he has time to bounce back in his hands, Anshul Kamboj will need to prove his worth against the best players in the country to earn a recall. Also Read: Why Dale Steyn Is A Better Test Bowler Than Mitchell Starc Despite Having Less Wickets
