Yash Dhull Doubtful for Duleep Trophy Semi-Final Due to Hamstring Injury
North Zone opening batter Yash Dhull has emerged as a major fitness concern ahead of the Duleep Trophy semi-final against South Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground. The right-handed batter is dealing with a suspected grade two hamstring strain, forcing team management to reconsider their combination for Sunday’s knockout encounter.
What Happened
Despite attending North Zone’s practice session, Yash Dhull is at risk of missing Sunday’s semi-final fixture. A source quoted by NDTV Sports indicated that the opener is managing a suspected grade two hamstring injury. Consequently, former India Under-19 captain Uday Saharan has been brought in as cover for the North Zone squad. If Dhull is ruled out, specialist opener Sanat Sangwan is in line to return to the playing eleven to open the innings alongside Qamran Iqbal.
Key Highlights
- Yash Dhull is doubtful for the Duleep Trophy semi-final against South Zone due to a suspected grade two hamstring strain.
- Former India Under-19 captain Uday Saharan has been drafted into the squad as cover.
- Specialist opener Sanat Sangwan is positioned to open the batting with Qamran Iqbal if Dhull is sidelined.
- Pacer Gurnoor Brar has joined North Zone’s bowling attack ahead of the knockout game.
- Sahil Lotra has been released from the North Zone squad, while Ayush Badoni is available after recovering from a fever.
- Opponents South Zone are led by Tilak Varma and feature a lineup including Karun Nair, Ricky Bhui, Shaik Rasheed, Narayan Jagadeesan, Shreyas Gopal, Tanay Thyagarajan, MD Nidheesh, and Vidwath Kaverappa.
Why This Matters
Dhull’s injury brings attention back to a debated selection choice made by the North Zone coaching staff, Ajay Sharma and Sarandeep Singh, in the quarter-final against West Zone. For that fixture, the management chose to leave out Sanat Sangwan—who had finished as the third-highest run-scorer in the previous Ranji Trophy season—to slot in Dhull as an opener. Dhull, who captained India to the 2022 Men’s Under-19 World Cup title, had recorded 381 runs in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season and subsequently registered scores of 9 and 0 against West Zone’s pace attack. Despite Dhull’s low scores, North Zone secured a 52-run victory to advance to the semi-finals.
What to Watch Next
North Zone must finalize whether Dhull can play or if Sangwan will partner Qamran Iqbal at the top of the order on Sunday. The team will face last year’s runners-up, South Zone, with a spot in the Duleep Trophy final on the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injury is Yash Dhull dealing with?
Dhull is managing a suspected grade two hamstring strain sustained ahead of North Zone’s semi-final match.
Who might replace Yash Dhull at the top of the order?
Specialist opening batter Sanat Sangwan is expected to return to the opening slot alongside Qamran Iqbal if Dhull is unable to participate.
Who has been added to the North Zone squad as cover?
Uday Saharan has been called up as squad cover, while fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has also linked up with the team.
Source: CricTracker via NDTV Sports report.