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After RCB, Rajat Patidar Ends Central Zone's Title Drought With Duleep Trophy Triumph

Soumyajit Dutta

Central Zone win Duleep Trophy 2025 beating South Zone cricket team [Source: @aman_shroff/X.com]Central Zone win Duleep Trophy 2025 beating South Zone cricket team [Source: @aman_shroff/X.com]

Central Zone etched their name on the Duleep Trophy after a nail-biting final morning, securing a hard-fought six-wicket victory over defending champions South Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The win, their first in nearly 11 years, was built on the bedrock of a colossal first-innings lead, powered by a career-best 194 from Yash Rathod and a magnificent all-round masterclass from Player of the Match Saransh Jain.

The victory, however, was not without its final-day jitters. Chasing a meagre 65 runs, Central Zone's top order succumbed to a spirited South Zone bowling attack, slipping to 24 for 3 and then 49 for 4, before Akshay Wadkar and Yash Rathod held their nerve to guide their team home. Here's how the Duleep Trophy Final went down to the wire.

The Mammoth First Innings Lead From Central Zone

After skitling South Zone cricket team for a paltry 149 in their first innings, thanks to a five-wicket haul (5/49) from Saransh Jain and four from Kumar Kartikeya (4/53), Central Zone knew a big score would virtually seal the game. They did more than that by delivering a knockout punch.

Despite early losses, Rajat Patidar played a captain's knock, a blistering 101 off just 115 balls that shifted the momentum decisively. But the cornerstone of the innings was Yash Rathod's marathon 194. Batting for 286 deliveries, his innings of immense concentration and skill included 17 boundaries and two sixes. 

He found a perfect ally in Saransh Jain, whose invaluable 69 from 193 balls in a 176-run sixth-wicket partnership ground the South Zone attack into the dust. Central's total of 511 gave them a commanding first-innings lead of 362 runs.

South Zone's Fightback: Andre Siddarth and Sharma Show Grit

Facing a monumental deficit, South Zone displayed tremendous character in their second innings. After the top order provided starts, it was the lower order that staged a remarkable fightback. 

Wicketkeeper-batter C Andre Siddarth played a defiant, unbeaten knock of 84, but the true resistance came from left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma. Coming in at number eight, Sharma counter-attacked brilliantly, smashing 99 off 168 balls in a thrilling 192-run partnership with Siddarth that dragged South Zone to 426.

This set-piece fightback, while ultimately in a losing cause, ensured South Zone made Central Zone bat again and set a tricky, if small, target of 65 runs on a fifth-day pitch.

Nerves Of Steel In The Tense Finale

The fifth morning lived up to its billing. The pitch offered plenty of grip and bounce for Ankit Sharma and movement for Gurjapneet Singh. The chase of 65 suddenly looked daunting as Central Zone stumbled.

Danish Malewar edged behind off Ankit Sharma. Shubham Sharma followed, nicking Gurjapneet to the keeper. In a bold move, promoted all-rounder Saransh Jain flashed a four but was caught off the very next ball, leaving Central reeling at 24 for 3.

Rajat Patidar survived a stumping chance and played some aggressive shots but fell with just 16 runs required, toe-ending a sweep to mid-off. However, amidst the chaos, Akshay Wadkar stood firm. With the pressure at its peak, he found a calm partner in Yash Rathod. 

The two saw off the threat, with Rathod appropriately hitting the winning runs to end 2025 Duleep Trophy, punching V Koushik through the covers to spark celebrations and end Central Zone's long wait for domestic red-ball glory.