Central Zone's Duleep Trophy Defense Hinges on These Key Players

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-08-02

The Duleep Trophy is back, and Central Zone means business. After lifting the title last season, they're not just hoping to repeat — they've built a squad that looks ready to dominate again. Rajat Patidar will captain the side, and honestly, the lineup reads like a who's who of Indian domestic cricket right now. But here's the thing: defending a title is never easy. Every other zone wants what Central Zone has. The good news? They've got a head start. ### A Captain with Something to Prove Rajat Patidar isn't just a name in the squad — he's the man leading the charge. And he's not alone. Joining him are three other India internationals: Rinku Singh, the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey, and fast bowler Yash Thakur. That's serious firepower at the top. Patidar's leadership will be tested early. With a bye into the semi-finals, he needs to keep his squad sharp without the benefit of a warm-up match. It's a luxury, sure, but it also comes with its own pressure. ### Spin Department Looks Loaded Here's where things get interesting. Saransh Jain, Patidar's teammate from Madhya Pradesh, will lead the spin attack. He's also part of India's Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour, which tells you everything about his current form. He'll have help. Harsh Dubey brings his left-arm spin, and Zeeshan Ansari — the Uttar Pradesh legspinner — is back in red-ball cricket after a five-year gap. Ansari impressed during India A's recent Sri Lanka tour, and he's clearly eager to make up for lost time. ### Batting Depth That Should Worry Opponents The selectors have made some smart calls here. Aman Mokhade, the Vidarbha opener, earned his spot after a breakout 2025-26 Ranji season. His numbers are ridiculous: 760 runs in 11 innings at an average of 76. That's not just good — that's elite. Ayush Pandey from Chhattisgarh also gets the nod after debuting for India A in Sri Lanka. And then there's Yash Rathod, another Vidarbha batter who's been quietly building a strong record over the past two seasons. He'll slot into the middle order alongside Patidar. - Aman Mokhade: 760 runs, avg 76, last Ranji season - Ayush Pandey: India A debut in Sri Lanka - Yash Rathod: Consistent performer over two seasons ### Pace Attack Blends Experience with Raw Pace Yash Thakur leads the fast-bowling unit, but he's got company. Nachiket Bhute from Vidarbha and Arshad Khan, the left-arm swing bowler from Madhya Pradesh, round out a pace attack that offers plenty of options. Depending on conditions, Central Zone can go with raw pace or swing. That flexibility could be the difference in close matches. ### Wicketkeeping and the Road to the Final Aryan Juyal from Uttar Pradesh is set to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Kunal Singh Rathore as his understudy. Solid choices, both of them. As defending champions, Central Zone get a direct pass to the semi-finals. They'll face the winner of East Zone vs. North East Zone when the semis start on August 30. The tournament kicks off August 23 at the CoE grounds in Bengaluru, with the final scheduled for September 6. That's a tight two-week window. Every match matters, and there's no room for complacency. ### The Full Squad Here's the complete list for the Duleep Trophy: Rajat Patidar (capt), Aryan Juyal (wk), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute. It's a squad that blends experience with hunger. The India A tour of Sri Lanka proved several of these players are ready for the next step. Now, they get a chance to show it on the domestic stage. Can Central Zone convert their bye into another title? The pieces are all there. It just comes down to execution when the pressure hits.