Shillong – In a massive boost for the state’s cricketing ambitions, three promising players from Meghalaya have earned spots in the North East Zone squad for the prestigious Duleep Trophy 2025-26. The selection of batter Arpit Bhatewara, fast bowler Akash Kumar Choudhary, and left-arm spinner Aryan Borah marks a proud moment for Meghalaya cricket.
The announcement came on Monday from the North East Zonal Selection Committee, which met in Guwahati to finalise the 15-member team. A testament to his consistent performance, Choudhary, who was also part of the squad last season, has been entrusted with the crucial role of vice-captain.
The Duleep Trophy, a premier domestic first-class tournament of the BCCI, is all set to kick off in Bengaluru from August 28 and will run until September 15.
The North East Zone side, a formidable mix of talent, brings together the best cricketers from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim. The selectors’ focus was squarely on building a balanced team, with players picked on the merit of their performances in various BCCI tournaments during the 2024-25 season.
Adding to the state’s representation, pacer Dippu Sangma has been named as a standby, and Meghalaya’s own Vikash Singh Chauhan will be the team’s trainer for the tournament.
The squad will first converge in Dimapur for a preparatory camp, hosted by the Nagaland Cricket Association from August 18 to 24, before heading to Bengaluru on August 25. The camp’s expenses, a symbol of regional solidarity, will be shared equally by all six states.
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