Central Zone's Duleep Trophy Defense: A Squad Built for Glory

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-08-02

### The Stage Is Set for a Title Defense Cricket fans, get ready—the Duleep Trophy is back, and Central Zone is looking to defend their crown. Rajat Patidar will captain the side, and he's got some serious firepower alongside him. This isn't just another tournament; it's a chance for Central Zone to prove they're the undisputed kings of Indian domestic cricket. Patidar won't be alone in this quest. The squad features three other India internationals who bring a wealth of experience to the dressing room. Rinku Singh, known for his explosive batting, will serve as vice-captain. Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey and fast bowler Yash Thakur add depth to the bowling attack, making this a well-rounded unit. ### Spin Department: A Trio to Watch One of the most exciting aspects of this squad is the spin attack. Saransh Jain, Patidar's Madhya Pradesh teammate, will lead the spin department. Jain is currently part of India's Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour, which speaks volumes about his current form and skill level. He'll be joined by Dubey and Uttar Pradesh legspinner Zeeshan Ansari. Ansari's story is particularly interesting—he returned to red-ball cricket after a five-year gap during India A's recent tour of Sri Lanka. That comeback shows real character, and it's the kind of resilience that can win you big matches. ### Batting Depth: Experience Meets Emerging Talent The selectors have clearly rewarded domestic performers. Vidarbha opener Aman Mokhade earned his spot after a breakout 2025-26 Ranji season. His numbers are nothing short of spectacular: 760 runs in 11 innings at an average of 76. That kind of consistency is exactly what you want at the top of the order. Ayush Pandey from Chhattisgarh is another name to remember. He debuted for India A in Sri Lanka and has carried that momentum into this selection. Meanwhile, Yash Rathod from Vidarbha brings stability to the middle order alongside Patidar, giving the batting unit both experience and recent form. ### Pace Attack: Blending International Experience with Domestic Grit Central Zone's fast-bowling options look solid. Thakur leads the pace attack, supported by Vidarbha's Nachiket Bhute and Madhya Pradesh's Arshad Khan. This trio offers a nice mix of international exposure and domestic success, giving the captain multiple options depending on pitch conditions. ### Wicketkeeping: Clear Plans and Solid Backup Uttar Pradesh's Aryan Juyal will be the first-choice wicketkeeper, and he's got a reliable understudy in Kunal Singh Rathore. Having a dependable backup is crucial in a tournament like this, especially with the pressure of defending a title. ### A Direct Path to the Semis Here's where things get interesting. As defending champions, Central Zone gets a bye straight into the semi-finals. They'll skip the opening round entirely and face the winner of the East Zone vs. North East Zone match when the semis kick off on August 30. The tournament begins on August 23 at the CoE grounds in Bengaluru, marking the start of the Indian domestic season. The final is scheduled for September 6, giving teams a compact two-week window to make their mark. ### The Full Squad List Here's the complete Central Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy: - Rajat Patidar (captain) - Aryan Juyal (wicketkeeper) - 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 (wicketkeeper) - Yash Thakur - Nachiket Bhute ### What This Means for the Tournament Central Zone has the advantage of starting later, which means they'll be fresh while other teams battle it out in the early rounds. But that also comes with a challenge—they'll need to hit the ground running without any warm-up matches in the competition. The blend of established India players and emerging domestic talents makes this squad particularly exciting. If the batsmen fire and the spinners find their rhythm, Central Zone has every chance of lifting the trophy again. Keep an eye on Mokhade and Pandey—they could be the difference-makers in this campaign.