Who is the New Captain of Central Zone for the Duleep Trophy?
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Synopsis
India's cricketing landscape is set to see a fresh face in leadership as Dhruv Jurel steps up as captain of the Central Zone for the Duleep Trophy. With a star-studded squad including Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Chahar, this season promises exciting matches. Can Jurel lead his team to victory?
Key Takeaways
- Dhruv Jurel appointed as Central Zone captain.
- Exciting squad featuring Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Chahar.
- First match against North East Zone on August 28.
- Traditional zonal format with six teams.
- Usman Ghani to coach the team.
New Delhi, Aug 7 (NationPress) Indian wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel has been appointed as the captain of the Central Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, which is set to commence on August 28 in Bengaluru. Alongside him, players like Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, and Khaleel Ahmed have also been selected for the 15-member squad.
India batter Rajat Patidar, who led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the IPL 2025 title, is slated to serve as vice-captain, pending fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). Patidar has been recovering from a finger injury sustained during the IPL 2025 season.
Recently, Jurel participated in a 2-2 drawn Test series against England, featuring in the final Test at The Oval, where India triumphed by six runs. He had previously stepped in as a substitute keeper for Rishabh Pant when Pant faced injuries during the series.
Meanwhile, Khaleel has returned from a county stint with Essex, which was limited to just two County Championship matches due to personal matters. Kuldeep did not get a chance to play during the Test tour of England, while Chahar was seen bowling during practice sessions leading up to the third Test at Lord’s.
The defending champions of the Ranji Trophy, Vidarbha, are well-represented with players like Danish Malewar, Aditya Thakare, Yash Rathod, and Harsh Dubey, who was part of the India ‘A’ team during the matches against England Lions. Usman Ghani, who coached Vidarbha to their recent Ranji triumph, will take on the role of head coach for the Central Zone team.
The Duleep Trophy will follow the traditional zonal format with six teams, marking the start of the 2025/26 domestic cricket season. Central Zone will kick off their campaign against the North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, with the winner set to face West Zone in the semi-finals.
Central Zone squad: Dhruv Jurel (captain), Rajat Patidar (vice-captain, subject to availability), Aryan Juyal, Danish Malewar, Sanchit Desai, Kuldeep Yadav, Aditya Thakare, Deepak Chahar, Saransh Jain, Ayush Pandey, Shubham Sharma, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed.
Stand-bys: Madhav Kaushik, Yash Thakur, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Mahipal Lomror, Kuldeep Sen, and Upendra Yadav.
Point of View
We stand firm in our support for Indian cricket and the exciting developments that unfold within it. The appointment of Dhruv Jurel as captain showcases the BCCI's commitment to nurturing fresh talent and ensuring a competitive edge in domestic cricket. We look forward to the Duleep Trophy and the thrilling matches that lie ahead.
NationPress
08/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Duleep Trophy start?
The Duleep Trophy begins on August 28 in Bengaluru.
Who is the captain of the Central Zone team?
Dhruv Jurel has been named the captain of the Central Zone team.
Which notable players are included in the Central Zone squad?
Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, and Khaleel Ahmed are among the notable players in the squad.
What is the format of the Duleep Trophy?
The Duleep Trophy will follow the traditional zonal format with six teams.
Who will coach the Central Zone team?
Usman Ghani, the head coach from Vidarbha's Ranji triumph, will coach the Central Zone team.
