CSK’s India Test Reject Knocks On BCCI’s Door After Stunning Duleep Trophy Show

CSK star shines in Duleep Trophy 2026 [Source: AFP]

CSK star Anshul Kamboj went berserk on the opening day of the 2026 Duleep Trophy season in Bengaluru. Playing for the North Zone, the forgotten Indian fast bowler hammered down an electrifying 60 with the bat from just 52 balls.

The cricketer belted five scorching boundaries and five huge sixes to elevate the North Zone towards a competitive total in their first innings.

Anshul Kamboj roars with the bat in Duleep Trophy 2026

Anshul Kamboj made a strong case for himself towards Indian selectors in the opening match of the 2026 Duleep Trophy season. While the designated fast bowler did not get to bowl on Day 1 against West Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, the speedster did bludgeon 60 off just 52 balls with five boundaries and as many sixes.

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Batting at number nine and arriving to the crease at 161-7 in 51.4 overs, Kamboj added crucial runs with the tail to stretch the North Zone total to 251 all out in 66.5 overs. He shared 48 runs for the eighth wicket with Abid Mushtaq, before adding 31 with number 11 Sunil Kumar.

Interestingly, Sunil did not face even a single delivery through their entire partnership, with Kamboj unleashing an extraordinary sequence of boundaries and sixes even while facing the likes of Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian.

BCCI Domestic

@BCCIdomestic

4⃣,6⃣,6⃣,6⃣,6⃣ Anshul Kamboj went berserk in the 66th and 67th over to add crucial runs down the order for North Zone, scoring 60 off 52 balls 🙌 Scorecard ▶️

Aug 23, 2026, 4:09 PM

Kamboj strengthens his case for Team India return

Anshul Kamboj has so far played just one Test match for Team India, doing so during India’s tour of England last year. Picking up just one wicket in the match at an expensive bowling average of 89, the 25-year-old was later excluded from India’s squad for home Tests against West Indies and South Africa.

It is worth noting that the CSK fast bowler has now strengthened his case for a national comeback, albeit not with the ball but with his bat. 

Kamboj’s fireworks with the tailenders might just be what Team India needs at the moment, considering Indian tailenders have been struggling to score runs on the board for the past couple years.

A look at Anshul Kamboj’s first class and CSK career

Anshul Kamboj was selected in Team India playing XI last year owing to his prolific record with the ball in domestic cricket. The cricketer has played 34 first class matches to date in his career, picking up 105 wickets in 58 innings at an impressive bowling average of 24.04.

Even in this year’s 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, the Haryana pacer grabbed 13 wickets in nine innings at an average of 27.

Apart from being a regular figure in domestic cricket, Kamboj has also emerged as one of CSK’s leading figures with the ball off late. In 14 matches of the high-scoring IPL 2026 season, the 25-year-old scalped 21 wickets at an average of 25.23. 

He will be expected to be retained by the CSK franchise for next year’s IPL 2027 season.

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