Duleep Trophy: Central Zone Secures Final Spot with First Innings Lead Against West Zone

Central Zone advances to the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy final after taking a first-innings lead against West Zone, thanks to a dominant total of 600 and excellent performances from Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey

Bengaluru: Central Zone has advanced to the final of the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy, having secured a first-innings lead against West Zone in their semi-final clash at the BCCI CoE Ground 2. The final will see Central Zone take on South Zone, with the title match starting on September 11.

Central Zone’s formidable total of 600 in 164.3 overs, aided by solid fifties from Shubham Sharma (96), Upendra Yadav (87), Harsh Dubey, captain Rajat Patidar, and Saransh Jain, gave them a substantial first-innings lead of 162 runs.

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In their second innings, West Zone fought back with a 216/8 score in 53.3 overs, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal (64) and Tanush Kotian (60*). However, Saransh Jain (5/84) and Harsh Dubey (3/96) were the standout bowlers for Central Zone, taking crucial wickets.

Central Zone resumed their innings from 556/8, and quick-fire runs came from Yash Thakur (21 off 21 balls), while Saransh Jain added a quick 50 before being dismissed. The total of 600 ensured the first-innings lead, with West Zone unable to get the required breakthroughs in their second innings.

Despite a solid start by West Zone’s openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Aarya Desai, a series of wickets fell as Saransh Jain and Dubey continued to apply pressure. Even with some resistance from Kotian and Tushar Deshpande (37-run partnership), Saransh took his fifth wicket, dismissing Shardul Thakur at the stroke of tea.

With time running out and no chance of an outright result, the match was declared a draw. Both teams shook hands, confirming Central Zone’s progression to the final.

Brief Scores:

West Zone: 438 and 216/8 in 53.3 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 64, Tanush Kotian 40*; Saransh Jain 5-84, Harsh Dubey 3-96)

Central Zone: 600 in 164.3 overs (Shubham Sharma 96, Upendra Yadav 87; Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 4-130, Arzan Nagwaswalla 3-57)