Central Zone Wins Duleep Trophy After 11 Years Under Patidar

Central Zone emerged as champions of the 2025 Duleep Trophy, beating South Zone by 6 wickets in a high-quality final. The match, held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, marked Central Zone’s first title since 2014–15, ending an 11-year wait under the inspired leadership of Rajat Patidar.

Patidar, who recently led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first IPL title, added another feather to his cap by guiding his zonal side to domestic glory.

Final Match Summary: Central Dominates from Start to Finish

• Final Result: Central Zone beat South Zone by 6 wickets
• South Zone 1st innings: 149 all out (63 overs)
• Central Zone 1st innings: 511 all out (145.1 overs)
• South Zone 2nd innings: 426 all out (121 overs)
• Central Zone chase: 66/4 in 20.3 overs

The match saw Central Zone secure a massive 362-run first-innings lead, which proved decisive despite some resistance from South Zone in their second innings.

A Look Back: Central Zone’s Duleep Trophy History

• Total Titles: 6
• Last Title Before 2025: 2014/15 under Piyush Chawla
• That final also saw them defeat South Zone, defending a narrow lead of 301 runs by just 9 runs

This year’s win was more dominant, showcasing the depth, balance, and resilience in Central Zone’s squad.

Key Takeaways

• Winner: Central Zone
• Opponent in Final: South Zone
• Margin: Won by 6 wickets
• Venue: BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru
• Captain: Rajat Patidar
• Player of the Match: Yash Rathod (194 runs)