• Central Zone has emerged victorious in the Duleep Trophy 2025 final, clinching the title after a wait of decade.

  • The decisive match, held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, saw them overpower South Zone by a margin of six wickets.

Duleep Trophy 2025 Final: Fans roar in delight as Rajat Patidar’s Central Zone thrash South Zone to win the title
Duleep Trophy (Image Source: X)

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Central Zone has emerged victorious in the Duleep Trophy 2025 final, clinching the title after a wait of decade. The decisive match, held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, saw them overpower South Zone by a margin of six wickets. Despite the final chase being a modest one of 65, the game was marked by several high-quality individual performances, with batters and bowlers on both sides leaving their mark on the prestigious contest. Ultimately, Central Zone’s consistent performance throughout the match, particularly in the first innings, proved to be the key difference.

Rajat Patidar’s leadership shines in Central Zone Duleep Trophy title win

Central Zone’s triumph was orchestrated under the sharp leadership of captain Rajat Patidar, who led his team with both tactical acumen and personal brilliance. He was a pivotal figure in the team’s resurgence, steering them to their first Duleep Trophy title in over a decade. His decisive move to bowl first after winning the toss on a cloudy pitch proved to be a masterstroke, as his bowlers bundled out South Zone for a mere 149 in their first innings. Patidar also led by example with the bat, scoring a brilliant century (101 off 115 balls) and forging a crucial 167-run partnership with Yash Rathod. This knock not only anchored Central’s innings but also showcased his ability to shift gears, accelerating after a composed fifty. His all-round contribution, which also included a spectacular diving catch, inspired the team and was fundamental to their victory.

Yash Rathod’s epic century seals Central Zone’s dominance

Central Zone’s command over the final was established in their first innings, thanks in large part to a brilliant and career-best performance from batsman Rathod. He struck a magnificent 194 runs from 286 balls, an innings that anchored Central Zone’s huge total of 511. Rathod’s knock was his seventh First-Class century and highlighted his impressive recent form in red-ball cricket, where he has accumulated 1,879 runs in 21 matches at a superb average of over 50. This monumental effort put Central Zone in a commanding position, securing a massive first-innings lead of 362 runs. The batter’s composure and clear game plan against the opposition bowlers, especially the spinners, were praised by his skipper Patidar.

Also READ: Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson hits back at India’s ‘disappointing’ refusal of post-match handshake

South Zone’s resilient batting effort in the face of adversity

Despite being bundled out for a low score in their first innings and facing a daunting deficit, South Zone mounted a spirited fight in their second outing. They posted a challenging total of 426, largely due to a few crucial partnerships. The most significant of these was a 192-run alliance for the seventh wicket between Ankit Sharma and C Andre Siddarth. Ankit was the star of this partnership, showcasing immense character to score 99 runs off 168 balls before unfortunately being dismissed, just one run short of his second First-Class century. Siddarth provided excellent support, remaining unbeaten on 84 from 190 balls. The young Smaran Ravichandran also made a valuable contribution with a solid knock of 67 runs.

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Key bowling performances and final moments of Duleep Trophy 2025 final

The match also featured some outstanding bowling performances from both sides. For South Zone, Gurjapneet Singh was the most impactful bowler, claiming figures of 4/124 in the first innings and 2/21 in the final chase. This marked his second successive four-wicket haul in the Duleep Trophy. The all-rounder Ankit Sharma was also a key factor with the ball, picking up four wickets in the first innings and two more in the second. In the end, South Zone’s second innings total left Central Zone with a small target of 65 to chase. However, the seemingly easy chase was not without a few anxious moments for Central Zone, as they lost four wickets before ultimately crossing the finish line.

Also READ: “Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces”: Suryakumar Yadav on India’s dominant victory against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

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