More than a year after he last played for India, Rajat Patidar began the 2025/26 Indian domestic season with a hundred in Central Zone’s Duleep Trophy opener.
Patidar had played three Test matches when England toured India in 2023/24. From three Tests, he made 63 runs at 10.50, was dropped before the series got over, and is yet to play for India again. However, in 2025, he created history after becoming the first to lead the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to an IPL title.
Rajat Patidar starts off domestic season with a ton
Appointed vice-captain in Central Zone’s quarter-final, against North East Zone, Patidar filled in when captain Dhruv Jurel was ruled out. Batting first after Rongsen Jonathan won the toss and opted to field, Central Zone lost Ayush Pandey to Akash Kumar in the third over to become 4-1.
However, wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal and Danish Malewar piled on the runs. Patidar walked out after Juyal retired hurt for 60, and launched a furious onslaught. Malewar beat him to the three-figure mark, but Patidar took only 80 balls to bring up his hundred and continued with the onslaught. In the process, Central Zone’s run rate zoomed past a run a ball.
Jotin Pheiroijam eventually dismissed Patidar for a 96-ball 125, an innings that included 21 fours and three sixes, amounting to a total of 81.6 per cent runs in boundaries. This is Patidar’s 15th first-class hundred but his first in the Duleep Trophy.
2nd Quarter Final, Central Zone vs North East Zone
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- Ball by ball Over
His highest score in all first-class cricket is 196, for Madhya Pradesh against Tamil Nadu in the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy. It is worth a mention that in October 2024, he had smashed the fifth-fastest hundred in Ranji Trophy history, off only 68 balls.
Central Zone finished day one at 432-2 in a mere 77 overs with Malewar unbeaten on 198 (219 balls, 35 fours, 1 six) and Yash Rathod on 32. In the other quarter-final, North Zone were 308-6 against East Zone.
