Rajat Patidar’s Central Zone secured the 2025 Duleep Trophy title with a six-wicket win over South Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Central chased a modest target of 65 on the final day to claim their seventh Duleep Trophy, ending an 11-year gap. The chase began cautiously. South Zone bowlers Gurjapneet Singh and Ankit Kumar struck early, reducing Central to 24/3. The pitch, dry and testing on the fifth day, offered uneven bounce. Central’s top-order struggled as the visitors applied pressure through disciplined lines and lengths. Akshay Wadkar (19* off 52 balls) and first-innings centurion Yash Rathod (13* off 16 balls) held firm in the lower order. Together, they guided Central past the target, reaching 66/4 in 20.3 overs. Their composure ensured no further wickets fell, allowing the team to lift the trophy. Read also: Ind-W vs Aus-W 2025 ODI series: Aus captain provides update on Ellyse Perry's injury Rathod and Wadkar Steer Central Home as South Zone Fights Back South Zone, however, earned plaudits for their resilience. Their second-innings total of 426 and disciplined bowling created tense moments. Left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma dismissed Danish Malewar (5) and later Patidar with sharp spin and precise lines. Pacer Gurjapneet Singh claimed Shubham Sharma and promoted Saransh Jain, the eventual player of the series, raising anxiety within Central’s camp. Post-match, Patidar said, “Every captain likes winning trophies. But our players showed a lot of character across the tournament and I am very happy about it. Here, the wicket was slightly dry so we decided to bat first. I am pleased for Danish and Yash; they batted well here all tournament.” South Zone captain Mohammed Azharuddeen remarked, “We will get better from this experience, a long season ahead. Central spinners were hitting the right areas and we made a few bad decisions as a batting unit as well. But we fought well in the second innings, and I am happy that we did not give up easily.” With the Duleep Trophy concluded, attention now shifts to the Irani Cup beginning October 1, followed by the Ranji Trophy from October 15.