Inexperienced Indian wicketkeeper set to captain Central Zone in Duleep Trophy tournament
Central Zone Announces Squad for the Upcoming Duleep Trophy
The Central Zone has revealed its squad for the highly anticipated 2025/26 Duleep Trophy, with the tournament set to commence on August 28, 2025. The Central Zone, consisting of seven Ranji Trophy teams, will be led by Dhruv Jurel, who has been appointed as the team's captain.
The Central Zone squad boasts a blend of experienced cricketers and emerging talent. Notable inclusions are Rajat Patidar (vice-captain, pending fitness), left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, pace bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar, and record-breaking Ranji performer Harsh Dubey.
Jurel, who has impressed with his performances during India A's tour in England and his recent international exposure, will have the opportunity to showcase his captaincy and batting skills in this key domestic competition. Although Jurel has never led a team at senior level, he has led Uttar Pradesh Under-19s and India Under-19s in the past.
The Central Zone has a distinguished history in the Duleep Trophy, a prestigious Indian domestic cricket tournament featuring zonal teams competing against each other. The team has won the Duleep Trophy six times, with their last victory coming in 2014/15.
The first match of the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy for Central Zone will take place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground B in Bengaluru, where they will face off against the North East Zone.
In addition to the named players, Kuldeep Sen has been named as a standby for the Central Zone squad. The complete squad is as follows:
- Dhruv Jurel (Captain & Wicket-keeper)
- Rajat Patidar (Vice-captain, subject to fitness)
- Aryan Juyal
- Danesh Malewar
- Sanchit Desai
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Aditya Thakre
- Deepak Chahar
- Saransh Jain
- Ayush Pandey
- Shubham Sharma
- Yash Rathod
- Harsh Dubey
- Manav Suthar
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Kuldeep Sen (standby)
The Central Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2025/26 promises to be a formidable force, with the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Harsh Dubey—who took a record 69 wickets in a Ranji Trophy season—among its ranks. As the countdown to the tournament begins, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the exciting matches ahead.
[1] IndiaTV News
[2] Cricbuzz
[4] ESPN Cricinfo
[1] IndiaTV News: The Central Zone, a powerhouse in domestic Indian cricket, is generating intense sports enthusiasts' interest with the announcement of their squad for the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy.
[2] Cricbuzz: The upcoming Duleep Trophy, a highly anticipated sports event, will feature the Central Zone, a squad brimming with both seasoned cricketers and rising talent.
