Duleep Trophy Final: Central Zone make four changes for South Zone clash
Duleep Trophy final shake-up: Central Zone draft four new names
Central Zone have refreshed their squad ahead of the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Bengaluru. Four players have been drafted in after India A call-ups created last-minute gaps. Vidarbha pacer Nachiket Bhute and MP spinner Kumar Kartikeya Singh headline the changes, with Kuldeep Sen and Ajay Singh Kukna also coming in. The five-day final runs from September 11–15 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Grounds.
Why the changes were made
The swaps were triggered by India A selections for two unofficial Tests against Australia A in Lucknow starting September 16 and 23. Yash Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Khaleel Ahmed, and Manav Suthar moved out, opening spots for like-for-like options. Central have balanced pace and spin in their replacements, keeping the attack varied for long red-ball spells. The approach aims to maintain continuity while covering crucial match roles.
Updated Central Zone squad
Player | Role |
|---|---|
Rajat Patidar (c) | Batter |
Ayush Pandey | Batter |
Danish Malewar | Batter |
Shubham Sharma | Batter |
Sanchit Desai | Batter |
Yash Rathod | Batter |
Upendra Yadav (wk) | Wicketkeeper |
Akshay Wadkar (wk) | Wicketkeeper |
Deepak Chahar | Pacer |
Nachiket Bhute | Pacer |
Kuldeep Sen | Pacer |
Aditya Thakare | Pacer |
Saransh Jain | All-rounder |
Kumar Kartikeya Singh | Spinner |
Ajay Singh Kukna | Spinner |
Final backdrop and what to watch
Both finalists advanced from drawn semifinals on first-innings leads—Central over West, South over North. Conditions in Bengaluru can offer morning movement before settling into a bat-long surface, making new-ball spells and batting discipline vital. Central’s fresh pace trio around Deepak Chahar will be tested across long shifts, while Kartikeya’s control could be key late in the game. With a title on the line, small session wins—first-hour wickets, last-hour runs—will decide the trophy.