Big Names Absent, New Faces Shine as South and Central Zone Gear Up for Duleep Trophy Final

Big Names Absent, New Faces Shine as South and Central Zone Gear Up for Duleep Trophy Final

With several top-tier players away on national duty at the Asia Cup or preparing for India A’s red-ball series against Australia A, the Duleep Trophy 2025-26 final is set to be a relatively understated affair. The clash between South Zone and Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru will feature a mix of emerging talents and domestic stalwarts as both sides look to claim the prestigious title.

Key Absences Force Squad Changes

Both teams have had to rejig their squads following the semi-finals. Central Zone have made four changes, bringing in Vidarbha’s Nachiket Bhute, Madhya Pradesh’s Kumar Kartikeya and Kuldeep Sen, and Rajasthan’s Kukna Ajay Singh. These replacements come in for Yash Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Khaleel Ahmed, and Manav Suthar, who are all heading to Lucknow for the four-day series against Australia A.

South Zone, meanwhile, have drafted in Karnataka's R Smaran and Tamil Nadu's C Andre Siddarth to replace Devdutt Padikkal and N Jagadeesan, who are also unavailable due to national commitments.

Batting Power vs Bowling Depth

Central Zone appear stronger on paper, particularly in the batting department. They boast three of the tournament’s top four run-scorers: Danish Malewar (294 runs), Rajat Patidar (268), and Shubham Sharma (252). Patidar, in particular, has been a standout performer with scores of 125, 66, and 77, and an impressive strike rate of 106.34 — the highest for any batter to have faced more than six balls in the tournament.

However, their bowling attack has been significantly weakened. With four of their frontline bowlers unavailable, much will depend on offspinner Saransh Jain — fresh off a Player-of-the-Match performance (8 for 205) in the semi-final — and pacer Deepak Chahar, who has had a quiet tournament so far with just two wickets in three innings at an average of 58.

In contrast, South Zone’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Gurjapneet Singh, impressed in their semi-final win over North Zone. But their relatively inexperienced batting line-up, led by captain Mohammed Azharuddeen, Ricky Bhui, and Tanmay Agarwal, will need to step up against a rejuvenated Central Zone.

Captaincy and Key Players in Focus

The spotlight will be on the two captains — Rajat Patidar and Mohammed Azharuddeen. While Patidar’s leadership and form have been commendable, the final will test his tactical acumen with a depleted bowling attack.

Azharuddeen, on the other hand, will be eager to make a mark with the bat after missing out on a good surface in the semi-final. Having scored 635 runs at an average of 70.55 in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, and following a solid Kerala Cricket League season, he will also have the added responsibility of keeping wickets in Jagadeesan’s absence.

Playing XI and Pitch Conditions

South Zone are likely to open with Shaik Rasheed and Tanmay Agarwal, while Smaran could slot into the middle order. If Salman Nizar, who was injured during the semi-final, is unfit, Andre Siddarth may make the XI.

Probable South Zone XI:

  1. Shaik Rasheed, 2. Tanmay Agarwal, 3. Mohit Kale, 4. R Smaran, 5. Ricky Bhui (vice-capt), 6. C Andre Siddarth/Salman Nizar, 7. Mohammed Azharuddeen (capt, wk), 8. Tanay Thyagarajan, 9. Gurjapneet Singh, 10. Vasuki Koushik, 11. MD Nidheesh

Central Zone are expected to retain their strong batting unit, while revamping their bowling attack with the inclusion of Kartikeya, Kuldeep Sen, and Aditya Thakare.

Probable Central Zone XI:

  1. Aayush Pandey, 2. Danish Malewar, 3. Shubham Sharma, 4. Rajat Patidar (capt), 5. Yash Rathod, 6. Upendra Yadav (wk), 7. Aditya Thakare, 8. Saransh Jain, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Kumar Kartikeya, 11. Kuldeep Sen

Surface and Weather Forecast

The final will be played on Ground A, known for its red-soil pitch and batting-friendly nature. Previous games on this surface have seen just 45 wickets fall without a fourth innings being needed. However, rain could play spoilsport, with forecasts suggesting a mix of overcast conditions and showers across the five days.

What They Said

"There was something for the fast bowlers, especially when they were hitting the seam – it was moving in and out. But we need to be really patient for that one ball. We know that it is a flat wicket, but we also know that there will be something in between,"
– South Zone captain Mohammed Azharuddeen on the Bengaluru pitch

With star power missing, the Duleep Trophy final offers a golden opportunity for India’s domestic talent to shine under the spotlight. The match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app.