In a thrilling finale to the Duleep Trophy, Central Zone emerged victorious, defeating South Zone by six wickets on Monday. Despite a few nervous moments requiring 65 runs for the title, Central expertly chased down the target during the morning session. This monumental win marks Central Zone’s first Duleep Trophy title since their memorable triumph in the 2014-15 season, led by Piyush Chawla.
Central’s dominance was largely established early in the match, courtesy of their commanding first innings total of 511. South Zone, conversely, will undoubtedly reflect on their opening day performance with regret, having been dismissed for a mere 149 on what was considered a favorable batting surface.
South Zone’s Early Batting Collapse Proves Costly
Reflecting on the match, South Zone coach and former India pacer L. Balaji acknowledged that his batters could have shown greater restraint in their first innings. He commented, “In hindsight, some of the shot selections were perhaps a bit unnecessary. However, this is a developing young batting unit,” referring to talents like R. Smaran and Andre Siddarth, adding, “They will certainly take valuable lessons from this experience.”
A standout performer throughout the tournament, Madhya Pradesh’s all-rounder Saransh Jain deservingly earned the ‘Player of the Series’ award. His exceptional contributions included finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps, complemented by two vital half-centuries with the bat.
The 32-year-old expressed his satisfaction with his strong start to the domestic season. “This series holds immense importance for me, as it’s excellent preparation for all the upcoming tournaments. The Duleep Trophy sets the tone, and it’s crucial for me to build on this momentum,” Saransh remarked.
Given the prominence of the Duleep Trophy, such performances undoubtedly catch the eye of national selectors. Saransh noted, “This is a significant tournament, and all the selectors are present. My focus is always on performing my best; the decisions of the selectors are beyond my control.”
Match Summary: South Zone, with scores of 149 and 426, ultimately fell to Central Zone, who posted 511 in their first innings and then secured the win by reaching 66/4 in 20.3 overs. Player of the Match: Yash Rathod; Player of the Series: Saransh Jain.