3 min readUpdated: Aug 1, 2026 05:21 PM IST
Rajat Patidar will lead the defending champions, Central Zone, in the 2026-27 edition of the Duleep Trophy, with India batter Rinku Singh named his deputy.
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Having beaten South Zone in last year’s final, Central will open their campaign in the semi-final on August 30 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, three days after India’s Test series concludes in Sri Lanka. Patidar had led Central to the title last year, finishing as the highest run-getter in the tournament with 382 runs, including a century in the final in Bengaluru.
Patidar’s Madhya Pradesh teammate Saransh Jain, who recently received his maiden Test call-up for India’s forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka, has also been named in the squad.
Vidarbha opener Aman Mokhade, who enjoyed a breakout Ranji Trophy campaign last season, has been included in the side alongside statemate Yash Rathod. The 25-year-old Mokhade racked up 760 runs in 11 innings as Vidarbha narrowly missed out on the Ranji Trophy knockouts. He was recently picked for India A’s unofficial Test tour to Sri Lanka, scoring 49 runs in a 10-wicket in Galle.
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Vidarbha pacers Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute helm the bowling attack alongside MP seam all-rounder Arshad Khan. India left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey will take charge of the spin attack, with selectors taking another punt on wrist-spinner Zeeshan Ansari. The Uttar Pradesh bowler, who had last played First-Class cricket six years ago, recently returned to red-ball action after finding himself in the the national selectors’ radar.
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Despite his limited long-format profile, the 26-year-old Ansari was picked as a net bowler for India’s home Test match against Afghanistan in June. He subsequently travelled with the India A squad to Sri Lanka and went wicket-less in the second unofficial Test last month.
Central Zone squad for Duleep Trophy: Rajat Patidar (captain), Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Aryan Juyal (wicketkeeper), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute.
Stand-by players: Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav and Kumar Kartikeya
Support Staff: Nikhil Doru – Head coach, Deshraj Chouhan – Physio, Chandrashekhar Rao – VA, Mohit Kumar – Masseur, Manish Jha – Asst. Coach, Mayank Agrawal – Trainer, Zuffri Zakeria – Manager.
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