South Zone vs Central Zone | Duleep Trophy, 2025 | Final

And that's a wrap! The Central Zone players are now taking to the stage to collect their well-deserved Duleep Trophy. The celebrations will continue for a while as the Duleep Trophy has made its long-awaited return after a long gap to the Central Zone. We hope you've enjoyed our coverage of the Duleep Trophy final! As the cricketing world continues to buzz with exciting matches, we invite you to switch tabs and catch the action from other games as well. Until next time, stay safe, and cheers!

Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar attributed the team's victory to the players' exceptional character throughout the series. He praised the bowlers for making life difficult for the batters, even on batting-friendly surfaces. Patidar revealed that the decision to bowl first was influenced by the slightly dry wicket, which they believed would favor the bowlers. Although they had predicted that the pitch would assist the fast bowlers, it ultimately turned out to be more conducive to spin. Patidar expressed his delight with the batting performances of Yash and Danish, who played crucial roles in the team's success. He also highlighted the experience and chemistry of his spin duo, Kartikeya and Saransh, who have played together extensively. Patidar noted that the pair's combination proved challenging for the opposition to navigate on the pitch.

South Zone captain Mohammed Azharuddeen reflected on the team's loss, acknowledging that there were several factors at play. He emphasized that this setback won't define them and expressed confidence in learning from the experience to perform better in the upcoming season. Azharuddeen attributed the loss to the challenging pitch conditions, noting that the opposing team's spinners effectively targeted the right length, making it difficult for South Zone to score. He highlighted the team's collective responsibility in the loss, emphasizing that they lost as a unit and would bounce back stronger. Azharuddeen also praised his team's performance, comprising experienced players who had done well in the Ranji Trophy. Despite the loss, he expressed pride in the team's fighting spirit, underscoring their determination not to give up easily.

Yash Rathod is the player of the match.

Saransh Jain has been named Player of the Series, and he justified this recognition with impressive performances. In the title-decider, Jain took a total of 8 wickets and scored a total of 73 runs. He had previously taken 8 wickets and scored 63 runs in the 2nd Semi-Final. According to Jain, he was particularly pleased with his bowling performance in the semifinal. As a well-rounded player, Jain believes that contributing with both bat and ball is essential. Alongside Kartikeya, Jain targeted the right areas, planned meticulously, and executed their strategy effectively. The duo's ability to change angles and make the ball turn kept the batters guessing, making it challenging for them to score freely. Jain emphasized that a spinner's ability to deceive a batter in flight is what sets them apart as a premium spinner.

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The final day of the match saw Central Zone cruising to victory, despite some initial nerves. Losing four wickets while chasing a small target raised some concerns, but the team ultimately held its composure to seal the win. This victory marks a significant milestone for Central Zone, ending their decade-long drought without the trophy.

However, the pendulum swung dramatically as South Zone lost their last four wickets in quick succession, drastically altering the course of the game. This collapse reduced what seemed like a potential platform for a substantial target to a meager 65 runs. Central Zone, chasing this modest target, lost four wickets but managed to secure the win by six wickets, ending a 10-year wait for the Duleep Trophy title.

The significant lead virtually sealed South Zone's fate, as Central Zone had secured a considerable advantage. South Zone's bowlers Ankit Sharma (4/180) and Gurjapneet Singh (4/124) had shared eight wickets between them in the first innings, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide. In their second innings, South Zone struggled, falling to 222/6 at one point. However, a marathon partnership of 192 runs between Andre Siddarth and Ankit Sharma briefly put them in a favorable position.

Central Zone dominated the Duleep Trophy final from the outset, restricting South Zone to a mere 149 runs in the first innings. The spin duo of Saransh Jain and Kumar Kartikeya played a crucial role in dismantling South Zone's batting lineup, with Jain claiming a five-wicket haul (5/49) and Kartikeya taking four wickets (4/53). In response, Central Zone began strongly, reaching 50 without loss on the first day and eventually amassing a massive total of 511 runs. This gave them a substantial lead of 362 runs, with Yash Rathod top-scoring with 194 runs and skipper Rajat Patidar contributing 101 runs.

Central Zone's dominant display throughout the tournament culminated in a well-deserved Duleep Trophy win, ending a 10-year drought. Their victory showcases the team's exceptional performance, particularly the spin attack's crucial role in limiting South Zone's scoring opportunities. Consistent with their previous rounds, Central Zone's substantial first-innings total paved the way for their success, ultimately sealing the deal with a convincing win.