3 fast bowlers who can make an impact in Duleep Trophy semi-final

India's 2026-27 domestic season has opened with the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru, with the tournament returning to its traditional inter-zonal format for a second consecutive season after a four-team structure in 2024-25. The semi-finals are set for August 30, with Central Zone facing East Zone on Ground 1 and South Zone taking on North Zone on Ground 2 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

All four zones have pace options who could shape the outcome of their respective matches. Here is a look at three fast bowlers who have the potential to make a real impact in the semi-finals.

Gurnoor Brar is a tall fast bowler who has joined the North Zone squad for the semi-final against South Zone. He is set to replace Jammu and Kashmir pacer Sunil Kumar in the North Zone XI. Brar has played six ODIs so far and was part of India's squad during the recent series win over Sri Lanka, which India won 1-0, though he did not feature in the playing XI. According to reports, the Indian team management is keen for Brar to get red-ball game time with an eye on having him ready for the Test series in New Zealand in November 2026. A strong showing in the semi-final could push his case for that tour, where his pace and bounce could be a useful weapon against the home batters.