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Central Zone ended an 11-year wait by winning the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone. The victory came after some nervy moments on the final day of the match.

Arshdeep Singh, despite being India’s leading T20I wicket-taker and a World Cup hero, finds himself sidelined under coach Gautam Gambhir’s regime. From missing his Test debut at The Oval to warming benches in the Asia Cup, Arshdeep Singh is probably fighting the most gruesome battle of his career.

Central Zone dominated the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final, dismissing South Zone for a mere 149. Spinners Saransh Jain (5/49) and Kumar Kartikeya (4/53) wreaked havoc, exploiting South's batting frailties. Central Zone's openers, Danish Malewar (28*) and Akshay Wadkar (20*), then built a solid foundation, reaching 50 without loss at stumps, reducing the deficit to 99.

South Zone has announced their squad for the Duleep Trophy final against Central Zone, led by Mohammed Azharuddeen and Ricky Bhui. Andrew Siddarth and Smaran Ravichandran replace Jagadeesan and Padikkal, who are now with India A. South Zone aims to maintain their momentum, relying on Azharuddeen and Bhui to lead the batting against a strong Central Zone.

Narayan Jagadeesan's near double century helps South Zone build a huge total against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinals. The day saw strong batting performances and a tight contest as Central Zone began their reply to West Zone's big score.

Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to showcase his class in red-ball cricket after his stellar 184-run knock in the Duleep Trophy semis against Central Zone. His knock propelled the West Zone to put a fighting first-innings total.

Shreyas Iyer's Asia Cup snub puts him in the spotlight as he aims to prove his worth in the Duleep Trophy semifinal. West Zone boasts a star-studded lineup, while Central Zone relies on Patidar's form. Injury concerns plague both zones, while South and North Zone face off in the other semifinal, each grappling with squad changes and player unavailability.

Ayush Badoni's unbeaten double century propelled North Zone into the Duleep Trophy semifinals, securing a first-innings lead against East Zone after their drawn quarterfinal match. Ankit Kumar missed his double century by two runs, contributing to a strong batting performance. Concerns arose for Mohammed Shami and Mukesh, who faced injury issues during the match.

Arshdeep Singh showcased his all-round abilities in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final, smashing two sixes in a cameo and later impressing with the ball. Aquib Nabi's hat-trick helped North Zone dominate East Zone, securing a substantial first-innings lead. Arshdeep's performance, after recovering from a thumb injury, will boost India's confidence ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.

Arshdeep Singh, after an unfortunate injury during the England Test series, showcased his readiness in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal. Despite not playing, he utilised his time in England to hone his skills, focusing on strength and conditioning.

Danish Malewar scored a brilliant double century while Auqib Dar claimed a hat-trick on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy. Their standout helped their respective teams establish control in the quarterfinal clash. 

Shubman Gill, recovering from a viral flu, is expected to arrive in Bengaluru to begin Asia Cup preparations at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He will undergo assessment and training due to unsuitable facilities near his home, and is likely to depart for Dubai from Bengaluru, joining other squad members.

India fast bowler Mohammed Shami had a forgettable return to red-ball cricket as he leaked 100 runs in 23 overs, playing for East Zone vs North Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final.

In the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal, East Zone restricted North Zone to 308/6, highlighted by Mohammed Shami's return to First-Class cricket after a hiatus. Shami, initially rusty, improved his rhythm, taking 1/55. Young spinner Manishi's key strikes and Ayush Badoni's quickfire 63 also stood out.

Central Zone dominated the first day of the Duleep Trophy quarter-final, reaching 432 for 2 against North East Zone. Danish Malewar remained unbeaten on 198, while Rajat Patidar contributed a rapid 125. Their impressive partnership helped Central Zone build a strong foundation, with Malewar nearing a double century.

Rajat Patidar smashed a 96-ball century and Danish Malewar struck an unbeaten 198 to put Central Zone on top against North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Mohammed Shami also returned with a wicket for the East Zone against the North Zone.

Indian cricket fans expressed disappointment as the Duleep Trophy, a premier domestic tournament featuring stars like Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav, lacked live streaming. This edition marks a return to the zonal format and serves as a trial for the 'serious injury replacement substitute' rule.

Central Zone captain Dhruv Jurel and East Zone skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran are not playing the opening round of their respective Duleep Trophy matches in Bengaluru. In Jurel's absence, Rajat Patidar is leading Central Zone and Riyan Parag is leading East Zone.

Sarfaraz Khan's unbeaten 109 propelled Mumbai against Haryana in the Buchi Babu Tournament, rescuing them from an early collapse. This century follows his earlier 138 against TNCA XI, solidifying his form ahead of the Test season.

The 2025–26 domestic season begins with the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru, a tournament doubling as auditions for vacancy in India's Test line-up. With questions over No. 3, No. 6 and pace depth, batters like Devdutt Padikkal, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfraz Khan, along with bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, aim to impress selectors ahead of home Test series against West Indies and South Africa.