Iyer, Jaiswal Headline Strong West Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy Semi-Final Against Central Zone

Iyer, Jaiswal Headline Strong West Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy Semi-Final Against Central Zone

A star-studded West Zone side featuring Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shardul Thakur will take on a depleted Central Zone outfit in the semi-final of the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy, starting at Ground B of the BCCI Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Led by India pacer Shardul Thakur, West Zone earned a direct entry into the semi-finals by virtue of reaching the final in the previous Duleep Trophy edition played in the zonal format (2023–24). Their formidable batting line-up also includes the likes of wicketkeeper Harvik Desai, and the returning Shreyas Iyer, who is set to play his first competitive match since the IPL 2025 final.

West Strengthened, But Without Sarfaraz

While the squad is bolstered by the return of several India regulars, Sarfaraz Khan has been ruled out due to a quadriceps injury sustained during the Buchi Babu tournament. Baroda’s Shivalik Sharma has been named as his replacement and is likely to slot into the middle order.

West’s bowling will be spearheaded by Thakur and Tushar Deshpande, with spin support from Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian.

Central Hit by Absences, Patidar to Lead

Central Zone, who progressed to the semi-finals on the basis of a first-innings lead over North East Zone, will be without Kuldeep Yadav, who is with India’s Asia Cup squad, and captain Dhruv Jurel, sidelined with a groin issue. In his absence, Rajat Patidar will lead the side, with Akshay Wadkar and Upendra Yadav in contention for the wicketkeeping role.

Patidar is in excellent form, having scored 125 (96 balls) and 66 (72 balls) in the quarter-final. Alongside him, Shubham Sharma and Danish Malewar, who hit a double-century in the previous match, will be key to Central’s batting fortunes.

On the bowling front, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, and Harsh Dubey will be tasked with containing West’s powerful batting unit. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar is likely to replace Kuldeep in the XI.

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at Ground B offered plenty of runs in the quarter-finals, and a similarly batting-friendly pitch is expected. However, recent rain around Bengaluru may create helpful conditions for seamers, especially under overcast skies.

In the Spotlight: Iyer and Patidar

The match marks a crucial opportunity for Shreyas Iyer, who was overlooked for India’s Asia Cup squad despite an impressive IPL 2025 campaign with Punjab Kings. A strong performance here could boost his chances of a red-ball return ahead of a packed domestic and international calendar.

For Central, Patidar will be vital again after his explosive start to the season. Facing a more experienced bowling attack, the responsibility on him to anchor Central’s innings will be significant.

Probable XIs

West Zone:

  1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

  2. Harvik Desai (wk)

  3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

  4. Shreyas Iyer

  5. Shivalik Sharma

  6. Jaymeet Patel

  7. Shardul Thakur (capt)

  8. Shams Mulani

  9. Tanush Kotian

  10. Tushar Deshpande

  11. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja / Arzan Nagwaswala

Central Zone:

  1. Aayush Pandey

  2. Danish Malewar

  3. Shubham Sharma

  4. Rajat Patidar (capt)

  5. Upendra Yadav / Akshay Wadkar (wk)

  6. Yash Rathod

  7. Deepak Chahar

  8. Harsh Dubey

  9. Manav Suthar

  10. Aditya Thakare

  11. Khaleel Ahmed