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Players Who Earned Test call-up after Duleep Trophy heroics [Source: X]
The Duleep Trophy has long served as one of the biggest stepping stones to Indian Test cricket. Before earning the chance to represent India, several players have used the prestigious first-class tournament to catch the selectors' attention with match-winning performances.
From legendary names to more recent entrants, the competition has played an important role in identifying players ready for the demands of Test cricket
On that note, here are five Indian players whose Duleep Trophy performances helped push them towards the national side.
Yuvraj Singh
Legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is one of the clearest examples of a player using the Duleep Trophy to force his way into India's Test plans. In the 2003-04 Duleep Trophy final, Yuvraj produced a sensational performance for North Zone against South Zone, scoring a century in each innings.
The performance proved decisive. India's selectors rewarded him with a place in the Test squad for the upcoming Pakistan series. Yuvraj eventually made his Test debut against Pakistan in Lahore in March 2004.
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Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw's Duleep Trophy exploits were impossible for selectors to ignore. After making a century on his Ranji Trophy debut, Shaw went on to score another hundred on his Duleep Trophy debut in 2017-18.
He subsequently became the youngest player to score a century on Duleep Trophy debut, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's previous mark. His extraordinary domestic form, combined with his U19 World Cup success, propelled him into India's Test plans.
When India faced the West Indies in October 2018, Prithvi Shaw was handed his Test debut. He responded by scoring a breathtaking 134, becoming the first player to score centuries on the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Test debut.
Abhimanyu Mithun
Abhimanyu Mithun made his first-class debut during the 2009-10 season and impressed almost immediately. His performances earned him a place in South Zone's Duleep Trophy side, where he continued to make an impact.
While playing the Duleep Trophy in Indore in January 2010, Mithun received his India call-up for the Test series against South Africa. He eventually made his Test debut against South Africa in Nagpur in February 2010 despite playing only a handful of first-class matches.
Anshul Kamboj
Anshul Kamboj is a more recent example of the Duleep Trophy acting as a launchpad for Test cricket. The Haryana fast-bowling all-rounder had an outstanding 2024 Duleep Trophy campaign, finishing as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets at an average of 17.12.
His best spell came against India B, when he finished with 8/69. Hence, owing to Duleep Trophy success and 34 wickets in six Ranji Trophy matches, his journey to the Indian Test team was accelerated. Anshul Kamboj eventually made his Test debut against England in 2025.
Saransh Jain
Saransh Jain's story is perhaps the most recent example. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder was named the Player of the Series in the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy after taking 16 wickets and scoring 136 runs, including two five-wicket hauls.
His Duleep Trophy exploits were followed by strong performances for India A against Sri Lanka A, where he further strengthened his case. In July 2026, Jain finally received his maiden India Test call-up for the Sri Lanka series at the age of 33.
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