Jammu and Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan was named captain of the North Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy on Monday. The 23-year-old will lead a squad that includes India pacer Arshdeep Singh and Delhi batter Ayush Badoni, who has been appointed vice-captain.
The selectors rewarded Jammu and Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy-winning campaign by including six players from the side. Along with Wadhawan, opener Qamran Iqbal, all-rounder Abdul Samad, left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq and pacers Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh were picked.
Who is Kanhaiya Wadhawan?
Born in September 2001 in Jammu, Wadhawan made his first-class debut at the age of 17 against Assam during the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season. However, he lost his place after the opening match and did not feature in the next game against Jharkhand.
He then missed selection for Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy squads in the 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
His return came through the 2025 Duleep Trophy, where he was selected for North Zone. Wadhawan scored 99 runs in two matches at an average of 49.50, including one half-century.
That performance helped him earn a place in Jammu and Kashmir’s squad for the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, which turned into a historic campaign as the team won its maiden title.
Wadhawan scored 474 runs in 10 Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 36.46, with one century and two half-centuries. His century came against Himachal Pradesh, while his final fifty of the season came in the title clash against Karnataka.
He finished as Jammu and Kashmir’s third-highest run-scorer in the tournament. Teammate Qamran Iqbal also had a productive season, including an unbeaten 160 in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka.
So far, Wadhawan has scored 883 runs in 16 first-class matches at an average of 40.13, with one century and six half-centuries.
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