Seam-bowling all-rounder Ramandeep Singh will captain Punjab in the 2026-27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while young batter Arjun Rajput is set to join the squad after completing his commitments in the Under-19 Asia Cup, the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) announced on Wednesday.

Rajput recently scored an impressive century against Pakistan. His arrival will depend on India’s progress in the Under-19 Asia Cup, with the team scheduled to face Afghanistan in the second semi-final in Muscat on Thursday.

Punjab will also have a change in its wicketkeeping department, with Sehaj Dhawan set to replace Prabhsimran Singh, who has been selected for the India A squad for the Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha from November 19 to 29.

In-form Salil Arora has been named the designated wicketkeeper. The batting line-up also features experienced players Anmolpreet Singh and Sanvir Singh, along with Uday Saharan and Vihaan Malhotra. Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar and leg-spinner Raghu Sharma will lead the spin attack.

The squad also includes Sukhdeep Bajwa, Krish Bhagat, Jashan Jindal, Emanjot Singh Chahal, Sahil Bhaskar, Kartik Chadda and Vishwa Nath Pratap. Veteran pacer Umesh Yadav, who has joined Punjab as a guest player for the season, is also part of the team.

Punjab have been placed in Elite Group B alongside Haryana, Delhi, Railways, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Saurashtra and Bihar. Their campaign begins against Haryana at 9 am on November 14, followed by a match against Delhi at 4:30 pm on November 16.

Punjab will face Railways on November 18, Tamil Nadu on November 20, Jammu and Kashmir on November 22, Saurashtra on November 24 and Bihar on November 26.

Punjab won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the 2023-24 season and have finished runners-up on four occasions.

Punjab Squad: Vishwa Nath Pratap, Prabhsimran Singh (to be replaced by Sehaj Dhawan later), Vihaan Malhotra, Anmolpreet Singh, Uday Saharan, Salil Arora (wicketkeeper), Ramandeep Singh (captain), Sanvir Singh, Raghu Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Sahil Bhaskar, Kartik Chadda, Emanjot Singh Chahal, Sukhdeep Bajwa, Jashan Jindal, Krish Bhagat and Umesh Yadav.