Central Zone Wins 62nd Duleep Trophy 2025-26, Defeating South Zone in Bengaluru.

In September 2025, Central Zone, led by Rajat Patidar, clinched the 62nd edition of the Duleep Trophy (2025-26) by defeating South Zone by 6 wickets in the final held at the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru, Karnataka. This marked a historic comeback for Central Zone after an 11-year title drought.

      Central Zone secured their 7th Duleep Trophy title, with the last victory achieved in the 2014-15 season under Piyush Chawla’s captaincy. The 2025 triumph ended an 11-year wait for the zonal team.

      Saransh Jain of Central Zone delivered consistent all-round performances and was named the Player of the Series in the 2025-26 edition, showcasing match-winning contributions throughout the tournament.

Main Point :-   (i) The 2025-26 edition featured six zonal teams—Central, East, North, North East, South, and West—marking a full return to the traditional zonal competition format.

      (ii) The Duleep Trophy, established in 1961-62 by the BCCI and named after former Indian cricketer Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, is a prestigious domestic first-class cricket competition. While the 2024-25 edition featured India A, B, C, and D, the zonal structure was reinstated in 2025.